A.anything that bears or supports: hence, Zeus is called γῆς ὄχημα stay of earth (γαιήοχος), E.Tr.884.
II. carriage, chariot, Hdt.5.21, etc.: prop. mule-car, opp. ἅρμα (war-car), Pi.Fr.106.6; also “ὀ. ἱππικά” S.El.740; “ἁρμάτων ὀχήματα” E.Supp.662; ὄ. ἵππειον, πωλικόν, Id.Alc. 67, Rh.621, cf. Tim.Pers.205; “αὔρα, θεῶν ὄ.” Trag.Adesp.565; ἔπαρχος ὀχημάτων, = Lat. praefectus vehiculorum, IG14.1072 (Rome, ii A. D.), cf. Supp.Epigr.4.520.12 (Ephes., ii A. D.).
2. of ships, mostly with some addition, “λινόπτερ᾽ ηὗρε ναυτίλων ὀ.” A.Pr.468; “ὄ. ναός” S.Tr.656 (lyr.); “νάϊον ὄ.” E.IT410 (lyr.); “τὰ ὀ. τά τε πεζὰ καὶ τὰ ἐν τῇ θαλάττῃ” Pl. Hp.Ma.295d, cf. Phd.113d.
3. of animals that are ridden, ὄ. κανθάρου a riding-beetle (as we say a riding-horse), Ar.Pax866; of Arion's dolphin, App.Anth.1.3; of a horse, Max.Tyr.14.4.
4. metaph., vehicle, raft, ὄ. ἀοιδᾶν, as Pi. calls his ode, Fr.124.1; “ἐπὶ βεβαιοτέρου ὀ., λόγου θείου τινός, διαπορευθῆναι” Pl.Phd.85d; ὄ. τροφῆς, of water, Hp.Alim.55 (but of the vena cava, Id. ap. Gal.UP4.5); “τὸ σιτίον οἷον ὀ. τῷ ὑγρῷ χρώμενον” Plu.2.698d; of honey as a vehicle for drugs, Gal. 10.300; σῶμα . . ψυχῆς λεπτὸν ὄ. Orac. ap. Hierocl. in CA26p.478M.; of the supposed vehicle consisting of fine and indestructible matter informed by the soul, its spiritual body, Procl.Inst.205, cf. Iamb. Myst.5.12, Dam.Pr.102; “ἀχράντῳ ὀ. χρώμεναι τῷ . . κάλλει” Procl.in Alc. p.33 C.