trans-fŭgĭo, fūgi, 3, v. a., to flee over to the other side, go over to the enemy, desert (very rare; syn. transeo).
I Lit.: multi proximā nocte funibus per murum demissi ad Romanos transfugerunt, Liv. 34, 25, 12: cf. Suet. Ner. 3; Nep. Dat. 6, 3; id. Ages. 6, 2; Auct. B. Hisp. 7, 4; 11, 3; Tac. A. 3, 13; 4, 16.—In a comical transf.: Ep. Ubi arma sunt Stratippocli? Th. Pol illa ad hostes transfugerunt, Plaut. Ep. 1, 1, 28. —
II Trop.: non ab afflictā amicitiā transfugere atque ad florentem aliam devolare, Cic. Quint. 30, 93: illius oculi atque aures atque opinio Transfugere ad nos, Plaut. Mil. 2, 6, 107.