ungŭla, ae, f. [unguis].
I Lit., a hoof , claw , talon; of a horse: totam quatit ungula terram, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 1 (Ann. v. 231 Vahl.); Verg. A. 8, 596; cf. Cic. N. D. 3, 5, 11.—Of a swine, Cato R. R. 158, 1; Cels. 2, 17; 4, 14.—Of oxen: bisulca, Plin. 8, 21, 30, § 72.—Of the claws of hens, Plaut. Aul. 3, 4, 8.—Of vultures’ and eagles’ talons , Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 63.—Prov.: toto corpore atque omnibus ungulis, i. e., as we say, with tooth and nail , with might and main , Cic. Tusc. 2, 24, 56.—
II Transf.
A Poet., a horse : cum carceribus missos rapit ungula currus, Hor. S. 1, 1, 114; Mart. 12, 50, 5.—
B A claw , an instrument of torture (late Lat.), Cod. Just. 9, 18, 7 fin. ; Prud. στεφ. 1, 44; Hier. Ep. 1, 3.—
III An aromatic spice , Vulg. Ecclus. 24, 21.