Lewis & Short

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vallum, i, n. [collective of 1. vallus; the line of palisades about an intrenchment; hence], an earthen wall or rampart set with palisades, a palisaded rampart, intrenchment, circumvallation.

  1. I. Lit., Varr. L. L. 5, § 117 Müll.; Liv. 33, 5, 4 sq.: castra vallo fossāque munire, Caes. B. G. 2, 5: aliquem vallo et fossā saeptum tenere, Cic. Att. 9, 12, 3: oppidum vallo et fossā cingere, id. ib. 5, 20, 5: oppidum vallo et fossā circumdare, id. Fam. 15, 4, 10; Sall. J. 76, 2; Liv. 7, 23, 5; Verg. A. 9, 146; 9, 506; 9, 524; Hor. Epod. 9, 13 al.
  2. II. Transf., in gen., a wall, rampart, fortification; with gen.: non Alpium vallum contra ascensum transgressionemque Gallorum obicio et oppono, Cic. Pis. 33, 81: India vallo munitur eburno, Lucr. 2, 538: saepes pastorum munita vallo arboris, Plin. 12, 5, 11, § 22: (spica) contra avium minorum morsus munitur vallo aristarum, Cic. Sen. 15, 51: munitae sunt palpebrae tamquam vallo pilorum, id. N. D. 2, 57, 143: dentium, App. Dogm. Plat. 1, p. 10, 9.
    Absol.: si interdicta petes vallo (i. e. stola) circumdata, etc., Hor. S. 1, 2, 96.

1. vallus, i, m. [cf. Gr. ἧλος, nail], a stake, pale.

  1. I. In gen. (rare).
        1. a. For supporting vines, Verg. G. 1, 264; 2, 25.
        2. b. A pole set with teeth and fastened to a cart, pushed forwards by oxen placed behind; used by the Gauls for cutting grain, Plin. 18, 30, 72, § 296 (in Pall. 7, 2, called vehiculum).
  2. II. Esp., in milit. lang., a stake, palisade, used for intrenchment (freq. and class.): qui labor, quantus agminis; ferre plus dimidiati mensis cibaria … ferre vallum, etc., Cic. Tusc. 2, 16, 37: Scipio Africanus militem cottidie in opere habuit et triginta dierum frumentum, ad septenos vallos ferre cogebat, Liv. Epit. 57: virgulta vallo caedendo, id. 25, 36, 5: vallum cae dere et parare jubet, id. 33, 5, 4: vallum secum ferente milite, id. 33, 6, 1: quo qui intraverant, se ipsi acutissimis vallis induebant: hos cippos appellabant, Caes. B. G. 7, 73.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. Collect. for vallum, a rampart set with palisades, Caes. B. C. 3, 63; Auct. B. Alex. 2, 3; Tib. 1, 10, 9.
      2. 2. In gen., a point, spike: pectinis, a tooth, Ov. Am. 1, 14, 15.

2. vallus, i, f. dim. [contr. for vannulus, from vannus], a little winnowing-van for grain or provender, Varr. R. R. 1, 52, 2; 1, 23, 5; id. ap. Serv. ad Verg. G. 1, 166.