FORFEX
FORFEX
dim.
FORFICULA (
ψαλίς.
dim.
ψαλίδιον), shears (Serv.
in
Verg. A. 8.453), used (1) in shearing sheep,
as represented in the annexed woodcut, which is taken from a carnelian in
the Stosch collection of antique gems at Berlin; (2) in cutting hair (Schol.
in
Eur. Orest. 954; Brunck,
Anal. 3.9;
Verg.
Catal. 8.9;
ferro bidenti,
Ciris, 213); (3) in clipping
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Forfex, shears. (From a gem.)
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hedges, myrtles, and other shrubs (
ψαλιστοὶ
μυρρινῶνες, Hierocles, ap. Stob.
Serm. 65, p.
415).
In military manœuvres the forfex was a tenaille, i. e. a body of
troops arranged in the form of a V, so as to receive and overcome the
opposite body, called a
cuneus (
Gel. 10.9).
In architecture the term
ψαλὶς denoted a
construction which was probably the origin of the arch, consisting of two
stones leaning against each other so as to form an acute angle overhead,
as is seen in the ruins of Tiryns and other
prehistoric buildings (Plat.
Legg. 12.947 D;
Diod. 2.9; see the second cut under
ARCUS p. 171
b). Later the
ψαλὶς is hardly to
be distinguished from the true arch; see references in L. and S., ed. 7.
[
CAMARA]
[
J.Y] [
W.W]
