I.“Zach. 14, 6: gelum,” Lucr. 6, 877; Varr. R. R. 1, 45, 2; gen. geli, Lucr. 5, 205 al.; nom. gelus, Att. ap. Prisc. 6, p. 685 P.; cf. Non. 208, 1, Fragm Trag. v. 390 Rib.; Afran. ap. Non. 207, 32, Com. Fragm. v. 106 Rib.; Cato, R. R. 40, 4 al.; acc. gelum, m., Cat. Orig. 2, Fragm. 30; abl. gelu, m., Mela, 3, 5 ext.; Flor. 4, 12, 18; Plin. Pan. 12) [root γαλ-, to be bright; whence γελάω, to laugh (cf. κυμάτων γέλασμα, Aesch. Pr. 90); γάλα, milk; γαλήνη, calm; cf.: lac, glacies; cf. Georg Curtius Gr. Etym. p. 172], icy coldness, frost, cold (cf.: pruina, glacies, rigor).
I. In gen.: “praeusti artus, nive rigentes nervi, membra torrida gelu,” Liv. 21, 40, 9: “nec ventus fraudi, solve geluve fuit, Ov. de Nuce, 106: et maris adstricto quae coit unda gelu,” id. Tr. 2, 196: “altitudo gelūs,” Plin. 8, 28, 42, § 103: “geluque Flumina constiterint acuto,” Hor. C. 1, 9, 3: “rura gelu tum claudit hiems,” Verg. G. 2, 317: “horrida cano Bruma gelu,” id. ib. 3, 442; Stat. Th. 5, 392.—
II. In partic., coldness, chill produced by death, old age, fright, etc. (cf. gelidus, II.; poet.): “pectora pigro Stricta gelu,” Luc. 4, 653: “sed mihi tarda gelu saeclisque effeta senectus,” Verg. A. 8, 508; Sen. Troad. 624.
