pullus, a, um, adj. [kindr. with πελλός]. I. Dark-colored, blackish-gray, dusky, blackish: lepus superiore parte pulla, ventre albo
, Varr. R. R. 3, 12, 5: nigra terra, quam pullam vocant
, Col. 1, praef. 24: color lanae pullus atque fuscus
, id. 7, 2, 4: ne maculis infuscet vellera pullis
, Verg. G. 3, 389: hostia
, Tib. 1, 2, 62: capilli
, Ov. Am. 2, 4, 41: myrtus
, dusky
, dark-green
, Hor. C, 1, 25, 18; cf. ficus
, id. Epod. 16, 46.—ESD. freq.: pulla vestis, a dark-gray garment (of dark-gray or undyed wool, the dress of mourners and of the lower orders), of mourners, Varr. ap. Non. 549, 33; also called toga pulla, not worn at funeral repasts
, Cic. Vatin. 12, 30; 13, 31.—Hence, subst.: pullum, i, n., a dark - gray garment, Ov. M. 11, 48: pullo amictus
, Liv. 45, 7; Flor. 4, 2, 45.—Plur.: pulla decent niveas (puellas)
, Ov. A. A. 3, 189.—II. Transf. a. In allusion to the clothing of the poor: pulla paupertas
, Calp. Ecl. 7, 26; 80: ipse praetor cum tunicā pullā sedere solebat
, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 24, 54.— Prov.: non possum togam praetextam sperare, cum exordium pullum videam
, i. e. a bad beginning cannot make a good ending
, Quint. 5, 10, 71.—b. Of language: pullus sermo
, the vulgar speech
, Varr. L. L. 9, 26, 33.—c. (From mourning attire.) Sad, sorrowful, mournful (poet.): si mihi lanificae ducunt non pulla sorores stamina
, Mart. 6, 58, 7: nere stamina pulla
, Ov. Ib. 246.