I.a nurse.
I. Lit.: “quid voveat dulci nutricula majus alumno?” Hor. Ep. 1, 4, 8; Suet. Aug. 94: “fabulae nutricularum,” Quint. 1, 9, 2.—
II. Transf., she who nourishes, maintains, preserves a thing: “nutriculae praediorum,” Cic. Phil. 11, 5, 12: “Gellius nutricula seditiosorum,” id. Vatin. 2, 4: “nutricula causidicorum Africa,” Juv. 7, 148: “casa nutricula,” in which one was brought up, Quint. Decl. 13, 4.