pēnĭcillum | pēnĭcillus, i (noun N.m) : n., and , , m.dim.peniculus, lit., a little tail; hence, acc. to diverse usage
* A painter's brush or pencil: caudam antiqui penem vocabant, ex quo est propter similitudinem penicillus,Cic. Fam. 9, 22, 2; id. Or. 22, 74; Quint. 2, 21, 24: setae e penicillis tectoriis,Plin. 28, 17, 71, § 235; Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 63.
* Transf.
* A roll of lint, a tent, for wounds, etc., Cels. 2, 10; 7, 7, 6; Plin. 34, 11, 26, § 113.
* A small sponge, Col. 12, 18; Plin. 9, 45, 69, § 148.
* A kind of eye-salve, Inscr. Tōchon, Cachets des Ocul. pp. 66 and 71.