cătŭlus (noun M) : dim.2. catus
* The young of animals, a whelp; cf. Non. p. 457, 8 sq.
* In gen., of swine, Plaut. Truc. 2, 2, 13; of a panther,Lucr. 5, 1036; of a lion,Verg. G. 3, 245; Hor. C. 3, 20, 2; Ov. M. 13, 547; of a tiger,Plin. 8, 4, 5, § 10; of a cat,Phaedr. 2, 4, 24; of a wolf,Verg. A. 2, 357; of a bear,Ov. M. 13, 836; 15, 379; of a serpent,Verg. G. 3, 438 al.; cf. in gen.: catulos ferae Celent inultae,Hor. C. 3, 3, 41.
* Esp., a young dog, a puppy (in this sense regarded by the ancients as dim. of canis, Varr. L. L. 9, § 74 Müll.; cf. id. ib. 5, § 99 ib.): omnia in perfectis et maturis esse meliora, ut in equo quam in equulo, in cane quam in catulo,Cic. N. D. 2, 14, 38: catulo meo Subblanditur,Plaut. As. 1, 3, 321; Lucr. 4, 997; 5, 1067; Verg. E. 1, 23; id. G. 3, 405; Plin. 29, 4, 14, § 57 et saep.
* Prov.: aliter catuli longe olent, aliter sues,Plaut. Ep. 4, 2, 9.
* A kind of fetter (cf. canis), Lucil. ap. Non. p. 36, 26; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 45 Müll.

s. TLL