vallus, i, m. [cf. Gr. ἧλος, nail], a stake, pale.
I In gen. (rare).
a For supporting vines, Verg. G. 1, 264; 2, 25.—
b A pole set with teeth and fastened to a cart, pushed forwards by oxen placed behind; used by the Gauls for cutting grain, Plin. 18, 30, 72, § 296 (in Pall. 7, 2, called vehiculum).—
II Esp., in milit. lang., a stake , palisade , used for intrenchment (freq. and class.): qui labor, quantus agminis; ferre plus dimidiati mensis cibaria ... ferre vallum, etc., Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 37: Scipio Africanus militem cottidie in opere habuit et triginta dierum frumentum, ad septenos vallos ferre cogebat, Liv. Epit. 57: virgulta vallo caedendo, id. 25, 36, 5: vallum cae dere et parare jubet, id. 33, 5, 4: vallum secum ferente milite, id. 33, 6, 1: quo qui intraverant, se ipsi acutissimis vallis induebant: hos cippos appellabant, Caes. B. G. 7, 73.—
B Transf.
1 Collect. for vallum, a rampart set with palisades , Caes. B. C. 3, 63; Auct. B. Alex. 2, 3; Tib. 1, 10, 9.—
2 In gen., a point , spike : pectinis, a tooth , Ov. Am. 1, 14, 15.