Rom. Antiq. [L. lupercāl, subst. form of lupercāle, neut. of lupercālis pertaining to Lupercus, a Roman deity commonly identified with the Greek Pan.]
1. A grotto on the Palatine sacred to Lupercus.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VIII. vi. 72. He schew him eik, the cove, was call Full mony ȝeris in thair leid Lupercall,… To Pan the god of Licie consecrait.
2. A festival held annually in February in honor of Lupercus. Also pl. Lupercalia.
1600. Holland, Livy, I. v. 5. Even in those daies … was the feastivall pastime Lupercal, used in mount Palatine.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 100. You all did see, that on the Lupercall, I thrice presented him a Kingly Crowne.
1740. J. Dupré, Conform. Anc. & Mod. Cerem., 101. The Pagans could say the same of their Saturnals, Bacchanals and Lupercals.
1901. Edin. Rev., Jan., 202. The Lupercalia was a Caesarian revival. Ibid., Oct., 328. His brother-conspirators of the proceedings at the Lupercal.
† b. transf. An orgy. Obs.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. vii. 416. To turn God’s Feasts to filthy Lupercals.
