Lewis & Short

2. pălus, ūdis (nom. sing. pălŭs, Hor. A. P. 65; but usually pălūs, Verg. A. 6, 107; v. infra; gen. plur. paludum, Caes. B. G. 4, 38, 2 Oud.; rarely paludium, Liv. 21, 54, 7 Drak.; Plin. 2, 68, 68, § 174; Just. 44, 1, 10; Eum. Pan. Const. Aug. 12, 2), f. [= Gr. πηλός, mud; cf. Sanscr. palvala, pool; perh. -ud of the stem = ὕδωρ, water], a swamp, marsh, morass, bog, fen, pool (cf.: stagnum, lacus).

  1. I. Lit.: ille paludes siccare voluit, Cic. Phil. 5, 3, 7: paludes emere, id. Agr. 2, 27, 71: palus erat non magna inter nostrum atque hostium exercitum, Caes. B. G. 2, 9: propter paludes exercitui aditus non est, id. ib. 2, 16: Cocyti tardāque palus inamabilis undā, Verg. G. 4, 479: sterilisve diu palus aptaque remis, Hor. A. P. 65: udae paludes intumuere aestu, Ov. M. 1, 737: stagnata paludibus ument, id. ib. 15, 269: nigra, Tib. 3, 3, 37: exusta, Verg. G. 3, 432: alta, id. ib. 4, 48: putida, Cat. 17, 10: nebulosa, Sil. 8, 382: sordida, Stat. S. 4, 3, 8.
    Hence, Palus Maeotis, = Lacus Maeotis, now the Sea of Azof, Plin. 2, 67, 67, § 168; Mel. 1, 19.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A reed that grows in marshes: tomentum concisa palus Circense vocatur, Mart. 14, 160, 1; 11, 32, 2.
    2. B. Water: (cymba) multam accepit rimosa paludem, Verg. A. 6, 414.