(adjective) : pătrŭus, a, um, 1. patruus
* Of or belonging to a father's brother, of an uncle (poet.): patruae verbera linguae, an uncle's, Hor C. 3, 12, 2: ense cadit patruo,Ov. F. 4, 55 (al. patrui).—Comically in sup.: patrue mi patruissime,my uncle, my best of uncles!Plaut. Poen. 5, 4, 24; 26.

pātrŭus (noun M) : pater, like the Sanscr. pitrivya, patruus, from pitri
* A father's brother, paternal uncle (opp. avunculus, a mother's brother, maternal uncle); cf. Dig. 38, 10, 10.
* Lit.: L. Cicero patruus,Cic. de Or. 2, 1, 2: tutor et patruus,Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 53, § 139; Hor. S. 1, 6, 131: patruus magnus = frater avi,Dig. 38, 10, 10: patruus major = frater proavi,Tac. A. 12, 22; Dig. 38, 10, 10: major patruus = avi et aviae patruus, Paul. ex Fest. p. 136 Müll.: patruus maximus = frater abavi,id. ib. Fragm. 17 ; plur., Juv. 1, 158; 6, 567.
* Transf., a severe reprover (as uncles are apt to co towards their nephews): pertristis quidam patruus, censor, magister,Cic. Cael. 11, 25: ne sis patruus mihi,Hor. S. 2, 3, 88: cum sapimus patruos,Pers. 1, 11; Manil. 5, 449.

s. TLL