Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Muscarium
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich.
MUSCA'RIUM (σόβη). A fly-flap for driving away flies, or whisk for dusting any thing; made of the long peacocks' feathers (Mart. xiv. 67.), or the tuft at the end of a cow's tail (Id. xiv. 71.); whence the word is also used for a horse's tail. Veg. Vet. vi. 2. 2.
2. A case or closet in which papers, tablets, &c., were placed to preserve them from fly stains (Inscript. ap. Romanelli, Viagg. a Pompei, p. 168.) The modern Italians retain the same elements with a similar meaning in their word mosca-juola, which signifies a cupboard or safe where eatables are put by.