linguatulus

Etymology
From.

Usage notes
The difference in meaning between the diminutive and the base adjective is disputed: Lewis and Short defines it as "somewhat gifted with a tongue, sub-eloquent", i.e. as " to a small extent" or "possessing a small amount of the quality described by the word ", but Petersen argues that this reading of the word as a "diminutive of quality" is incorrect. Petersen says that instead of adding the meaning "somewhat" or "sub-", the diminutive in this context is a hypocoristic that "expresses admiration for neatness, elegance, or beauty".

The adjective literally meant "tongued" (possessing a tongue); it was used with the metaphorical sense "eloquent", but in the context of Tertullian's story, which is about infants supposedly raised by a nurse who had her tongue cut out, the literal meaning seems possible.