alveolus, i, m. dim. alveus, a small hollow or cavity. A tray, trough, basin: alveolus ligneus, Phaedr. 2, 5; * Liv. 28, 45; so Juv. 5, 88; Col. 8, 5, 13: intriverat panes in alveolo, * Vulg. Dan. 13, 32.

— (In Paul. ex Fest. p. 8 Mull., as neutr.: alveolum: tabula aleatoria.) A small gaming-board, upon which the dice were thrown (cf. alveus, C.), Varr. ap. Gell. 1, 20: alveolum poscere, * Cic. Fin. 5, 20.

— The small channel of a river, Curt. 6, 4.

— And from its shape, a weaver's shuttle (cf. Germ. Schiff), Hier. Ep. 130.