clāvus ī, m CLAV-, a nail: clavi ferrei, Cs.: clavos figentes, L.: clavo ab dictatore fixo, L.: ex hoc die clavum anni movebis, i. e. reckon the beginning of the year: tamquam clavo clavum eiciendum: beneficium trabali clavo figere, with a spike, i. e. to clinch: Necessitas Clavos trabalīs Gestans, H.

— A rudder, helm: clavum ad litora torquere, V.

— Fig.: clavum tanti imperi.

— A purple stripe (on the tunic, broad for senators, narrow for the equites): lati clavi, L.: latus clavus (absurdly assumed by the praefect of a village), H.

—Poet., a striped tunic: mutare, H.