prŏcella, ae
* F [pro and root kel; Gr. κέλης, runner; cf.: celer, celox], a violent wind (by which things are prostrated), a storm, hurricane, tempest (class.).
* Lit.: procella distat latitudine a vortice et a turbine disjectā nube verius quam ruptā,Plin. 2, 49, 50, § 133: turbinis inmanem vim provomit atque procellae,Lucr. 6, 447: imbres, nimbi, procellae, turbines,Cic. N. D. 3, 20, 51; Plaut. Trin. 4, 1, 17: creber procellis Africus,Verg. A. 1, 85: stridens Aquilone procella,id. ib. 1, 102: si mugiat Africis Malus procellis,Hor. C. 3, 29, 58; 2, 9, 3: praecipites,Ov. Tr. 4, 6, 35: navis quassata procellā,id. ib. 5, 5, 17: raperent mea poma procellae, id. Nux, 163: procella nivem effuderat,Curt. 3, 13, 7: imbrem excusserant procellae,id. 4, 7, 14: Thalle, turbidā rapacior procellā,Cat. 25, 4.—With gen.: validi venti collecta procella,Lucr. 6, 124.
* Transf.
* (Mostly in plur.) A storm, tumult, violence, commotion, vehemence: tempestates et procellas in illis fluctibus concionum,Cic. Mil. 2, 5 (also cited ap. Quint. 8, 6, 48, and particularly mentioned as a figure, id. 8, 6, 48, § 7): vita tranquilla et quieta remota a procellis invidiarum,Cic. Clu. 56, 153: ut procellam temporis devitaret,Cic. Verr. 1, 3, 8: patriae,id. Dom. 53, 137: agitari tribuniciis procellis,Liv. 2, 1; cf.: seditionum procellae,id. 28, 25: procellae civiles,civil commotions,Nep. Att. 10, 6; cf.: ferimur procellā,Verg. A. 7, 594; Ov. M. 13, 656.
* In milit. lang.
* A charge, onset, sudden attack of cavalry: hac velut procellā ita consternavit equos, ut, etc.,Liv. 37, 41 fin.: equestrem procellam excitemus oportet,id. 30, 18: equestris,id. 29, 2; Tac. H. 3, 53.
* In gen., of a fierce battle: hic secunda belli Punici procella desaevit,Flor. 2, 6, 12; Luc. 8, 203.
* Of a storm of eloquence: priusquam illam eloquentiae procellam effunderet (Ulixes),Quint. 11, 3, 158: contionum,id. 8, 6, 7.

s. TLL