mascŭlus, a, um
* Adj. dim. [mas], male, masculine; subst., a male (not in Cic. or Caes.).
* Lit.: bona femina, et malus masculus,Plaut. Cist. 4, 2, 39: incertus infans natus masculus an femina esset,Liv. 31, 12: genus,Phaedr. 4, 14, 15: genus masculum femininumve,Plin. 10, 68, 87, § 189: tura,Verg. E. 8, 65; Ov. Med. fac. 94; Plin. 12, 14, 32, § 61: dare mascula nomina rebus,Mart. 11, 43, 11: libido, i. e. tribadum,Hor. Epod. 5, 41.
* Transf.
* Of things: cardo, which is inserted into another (opp. cardo femina, into which another is inserted), Vitr. 9, 9 med.; v. cardo; of gems,Plin. 37, 7, 25, § 92.
* Worthy of or befitting a man, manly, vigorous, bold: proles,Hor. C. 3, 6, 37: Sappho,id. Ep. 1, 19, 28: animus,App. M. 6, p. 184, 21: ingenium, id. ib. 7, p. 190, 25: indicium masculi et incorrupti viri,Quint. 5, 12, 20; v. masculinus.

s. TLL