I.a hair (syn.: villus, seta).
I. Lit.: “capra pilos ministrat ad usum nauticum,” Varr. R. R. 2, 11: “munitae sunt palpebrae vallo pilorum,” Cic. N. D. 2, 57, 143: “caudae pilos equinae vellere,” Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 45: “duris aspera crura pilis,” Ov. A. A. 3, 194: “contra pilum equum fricare, Pelag. Vet. 26: in capite homini plurimus pilus,” Plin. 11, 37, 47, § 130.—Prov.: “non minus molestum est calvis quam comatis pilos velli,” Sen. Tranq. An. 8, 2, 3: “propius quidem est a sole mons quam campus aut valles, sed sic, quomodo est pilus pilo crassior,” Sen. Q. N. 4, 11, 4.—
II. Transf.
A. Collect., hair, the hair: “fruticante pilo neglecta et squalida crura,” Juv. 9, 15.—
B. As a designation of insignificance, a hair, a trifle; usually joined with a negative, not a hair, not a bit, not a whit (class.): “ego ne pilo quidem minus me amabo,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 16, 5: “interea e Cappadociā ne pilum quidem,” id. Att. 5, 20, 6: “ne ullum pilum viri boni habere dicatur,” has not a hair of a good man about him, id. Rosc. Com. 7, 20: “non facit pili cohortem,” does not value it a straw, Cat. 10, 13; cf.: “nec pili facit uni,” cares not a pin about it, id. 17, 16.—In plur., a garment or fabric made of hair: “vestitus pilis cameli,” Vulg. Marc. 1, 6.
