Lewis & Short

flăgellum, i, n. dim. [flagrum], a whip, scourge; more severe than scutica.

  1. I. (Cf. also: flagrum, verber, lorum.) Lit.: nec scuticā dignum horribili sectere flagello, Hor. S. 1, 3, 119; cf.: ille flagellis Ad mortem caesus, id. ib. 1, 2, 41; Cic. Rab. Perd. 4, 12; Dig. 48, 19, 10; Hor. Epod. 4, 11; Cat. 25, 11; Ov. Ib. 185; Juv. 6, 479.
    1. B. Transf.
      1. 1. A riding-whip, Verg. A. 5, 579; Sil. 4, 441; a whip for driving cattle, Col. 2, 2, 26.
      2. 2. The thong of a javelin, Verg. A. 7, 731.
      3. 3. A young branch or shoot, a vine-shoot, Varr. R. R. 1, 31, 3; Verg. G. 2, 299; Cat. 62, 52; Col. 3, 6, 3 al.
      4. 4. The arm of a polypus, Ov. M. 4, 367.
      5. 5. In late Lat., a threshing-flail, Hier. Isa. 28.
      6. 6. A tuft of hair, Sid. Ep. 1, 2.
  2. II. Trop., the lash or stings of conscience (poet.), Lucr. 3, 1019; Juv. 13, 195; cf. of the goad of love, Hor. C. 3, 26, 11.