I.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).
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.—
II. Transf.