A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

a cognomen in many Roman gentes, was indicative, like many other Roman cognomens, of a bodily defect or peculiarity; as for instance, Capilto, Fronto, Naso, Varus, &c. It signified a person who had a slight cast in the eye, and is ac cordingly classed by Pliny with the word Strabo H. N. 11.7. s. 55); but that it did not indicate such a complete distortion of vision as the latter word is clear from Horace, who describes a father calling a son that was Strabo by the name of Paetus, when he wished to extenuate the defect (Sat. 1.3. 45). Indeed, the slight cast implied in the word Paetus was considered attractive rather than otherwise, and we accordingly find it given as an epithet to Venus. (Ov. Ar. Am. 2.659; Auctor, Priapeia, 36).