būcina (not buccina), ae, f., = βυκάνη, 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.