alicula

• a light upper garment (quod alas nobis injecta contineat, Vel. Long. 2230 P., but better acc. to Ferrar. de Re Vest. 2, 3, c. 1, from the collar or cape upon it), * Mart. 12, 82: aliculā subornatus polymitā, a light hunting-dress, Petr. 40, 5; a child's coat, Dig. 34, 2, 24.

ALIC´ULAa short cloak coming down to the elbows, mentioned by Ulpian (Dig. 34, 2, 23) as proper to boys, by Petronius (Sat. 40) as worn by a hunter, and by Martial (Mart. 12.82) as an inexpensive present. It was so called, according to Velius Longus (Putsch, p. 2230), quod alas nobis iniecta contineat; according to Ferrarius, from its collar or cape. Rich, however, derives the name from its resemblance to wings when fastened by a brooch and floating behind the back. There seems to be no reason for connecting the word with the chlamys ἄλληξ or ἄλλιξ. Saglio identifies the alicula with a garment worn by shepherds and countrymen in works of art, and by the Good Shepherd on sarcophagi and paintings in the catacombs, sometimes opening in front, and sometimes furnished with a small cape.

A short cloak coming down to the elbows, worn by boys, and spoken of as worn by boys and huntsmen. Rich derives the name from the resemblance of the garment to wings (alae).