fauces (noun F) : (
* Sing. nom. faux only in Cael. Aur. Tard. 2, 11, 127, =arteria aspera; cf. Varr. L. L. 10, § 78 Müll.; Charis. p. 72 P. —The abl. sing. fauce sometimes in poets: Ov. H. 9, 98; id. M. 14, 738; Hor. Epod. 14, 4; Phaedr. 1, 1, 3; 1, 8, 4; Mart. 7, 37, 6 al.), f. cf. Sanscr. bhūka, hole, opening, the upper part of the throat, from the root of the tongue to the entrance of the gullet, the pharynx, throat, gullet (syn.: gula, guttur, jugulum).
* Lit.: summum gulae fauces vocantur, extremum stomachus; quibus fauces non sunt, ne stomachus quidem est,Plin. 11, 37, 68, § 179: exigua in arteria sub ipsis faucibus lingula est, quae, cum spiramus, attollitur,Cels. 4, 1: (galli) favent faucibus russis cantu, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 2, 26, 57 (Trag. v. 250 ed. Vahl.): sitis fauces tenet,Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 34: sitis fauces urit,Hor. S. 1, 2, 214: lippiunt fauces fame,Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 39; 1, 2, 36: fauces tussientes,Cels. 5, 25, 11: nuces videntur fauces exasperare,Plin. 23, 8, 74, § 142: fauces tumentes strangulant vocem, etc.,Quint. 11, 3, 20: infirmatis faucibus, praeconis voce concionatus est,Suet. Aug. 84 fin.: propino tibi salutem plenis faucibus,Plaut. Stich. 3, 2, 16: merum ingurgitare faucibus plenis,id. Curc. 1, 2, 39: exscrea usque ex penitis faucibus,from the bottom of your throat,id. As. 1, 1, 28: alicui fauces prehendere,id. Most. 1, 3, 62; cf.: qui sacerdoti scelestus fauces interpresserit,id. Rud. 3, 2, 41: laqueo innectere fauces,to strangle,Ov. M. 10, 378; cf. also: ad necem secandasque novacula fauces,Suet. Calig. 23: fauces manu sua oppressit,id. ib. 12: retinens singulos et contortis faucibus convertens,id. Caes. 62.—Trop.: faucibus teneor,I am caught by the throat, I feel the knife at my throat,Plaut. Cas. 5, 3, 4; cf.: cum faucibus premeretur,Cic. Clu. 31, 84: Timarchides premit fauces defensionis tuae,Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 76, § 176: eripite nos ex faucibus eorum, quorum crudelitas, etc., from the jaws, Crass. ap. Cic. de Or. 1, 52, 225; cf. Cic. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 6, § 19: urbem totius belli ore ac faucibus ereptam esse,id. Arch. 9, 21: e mediis Orci faucibus ad hunc evasi modum,App. M. 7, p. 191: cum inexplebiles populi fauces exaruerunt libertatis siti,Cic. Rep. 1, 43: lupus fauce improba incitatus,i. e. voracity,Phaedr. 1, 2, 3.
* Transf., of places:
* A narrow way, narrow inlet or outlet, an entrance, defile, pass (cf. angustiae): Corinthus posita in angustiis atque in faucibus Graeciae, in the mouth or entrance, Cic. Agr. 2, 32, 87: in Ciliciae angustissimis faucibus,Curt. 7, 4; cf.: qua fauces erant angustissimae portus,Caes. B. C. 1, 25, 5: portus,id. ib. 3, 24, 1; 3, 39, 2: Masinissam persecutus in valle arta, faucibus utrimque obsessis, inclusit,Liv. 29, 32, 4: Aemilius sedens in faucibus macelli,Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 62, § 145; so, macelli,id. Quint. 6, 25: per fauces montis ut Aetnae Exspirent ignes,the crater,Lucr. 6, 630: cava flumina siccis faucibus, etc.,Verg. G. 4, 428: altae montis,Lucr. 6, 697: Nilus multis faucibus in Aegyptium mare se evomit,through many mouths,Plin. 5, 9, 10, § 54: Bospori,the Dardanelles,id. 6, 1, 1, § 4; Sil. 12, 127: cum fornacem facies, fauces praecipites deorsum facito,Cato, R. R. 38, 3: pictis e faucibus currus emittere, from the barriers, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 48, 107 (Ann. v. 89 ed. Vahl.).
* The jaws of the earth, gulf, abyss: patefactis terrae faucibus,Cic. N. D. 2, 37, 95.

s. TLL