winding shell on which Triton blew

būcĭna (not buccĭna), ae, f., = bukanê, a crooked horn or trumpet (while tuba is usually the straight trumpet; cf. Veg. Mil. 3, 3, 5 Stewech.).

Lit., a shepherd ' s horn, Varr. R. R. 2, 4, 20:

bucina inflata,

id. ib. 3, 13, 1; Col. 6, 23, 3; Prop. 4 (5), 10, 29.—

Transf.

A war-trumpet:

bello dat signum rauca cruentum Bucina,

Verg. A. 11, 475:

quā bucina signum Dira dedit,

id. ib. 7, 519.—In gen., as a signal employed in changing the four night-watches, and for waking the soldiers (cf. Dict. of Antiq.):

te gallorum, illum bucinarum cantus exsuscitat,

Cic. Mur. 9, 22:

ubi secundae vigiliae bucinā datum signum esset,

Liv. 7, 35, 1; Prop. 4 (5), 4, 63; Sil. 7, 154.—

Hence, meton.: ad primam, secundam, etc., bucinam (for vigiliam), at the first, second, etc., watch:

ut ad tertiam bucinam praesto essent,

Liv. 26, 15, 6.—It was also blown at the end of the evening meal, Tac. A. 15, 30 Nipp. ad loc.—

In other spheres of life;

so for calling assemblies of the people: bucina datur: homines ex agris concurrunt,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 96:

bucina cogebat priscos ad verba Quirites,

Prop. 4 (5), 1, 13; Curt. 3, 3, 8.—

For designating the hours of the day (which were divided into four parts),

Sen. Thyest. 799; cf. bucino.—

Poet., a kind of circular, winding shell on which Triton blew, Triton ' s shell, Ov. M. 1, 335 and 337; cf. bucinator.—

Trop.:

foedae bucina famae,

the trump of ill fame, Juv. 14, 152; cf. bucinator, II.