Zoílus, A malitious Poet, that wrate a booke of rayling Verses agaynst the noble workes of Homer, and therefore is called Homeromastix, that is, Homers sconrge. When this Zoilus did reade his verses to the worthie and learned king Ptolome, he taking thereat great displeasure, at that presÊt sayd not one word vnto him. Afterward this rayling Poet being in great pouertie, desired of the king some reliefe. Nay (sayth Ptolome) Homer feedeth & refresheth many. Wherefore thou, that art better than Homer, mayste well finde thy selfe without reliefe of other. At the last he was condemned of heynous murder, and by the kinges commanndement put to death. Of him all malitious carpers of other mens works be called Zoili.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
Zōĭlus, i, m., = *zw/ilos, a severe critic in the time of Ptolemaeus Philadelphus, a censurer of Homer (hence called *(omhroma/stic, Homeromastix), Vitr. 7 praef.— Transf., of a censorious person, Ov. R. Am. 366; Mart. 11, 37, 1.