I.the warp in the upright loom of the ancients (cf.: trama, subtemen).
II. Transf., in gen.
A. A thread hanging from the distaff: “aut ducunt lanas aut stamina pollice versant,” Ov. M. 4, 34; 4, 179; 4, 221; “12, 475: operoso stamine,” id. A. A. 1, 695: “et minuent plenas stamina nostra colos,” id. H. 3, 76: “deducere plenā stamina longa colu,” Tib. 1, 3, 86; 1, 6, 78: “digitis dum torques stamina duris,” Ov. H. 9, 79.—Of the threads of the Parcae, Tib. 1, 7, 2; 3, 3, 36; Ov. M. 8, 453; id. Tr. 5, 13, 24; 4, 1, 63; Luc. 3, 19; 6, 777. —Hence, de legibus queri Fatorum et nimio de stamine, too long a thread of life, Juv. 10, 252.—Poet.: “fallebam stamine somnum,” i. e. by spinning, Prop. 1, 3, 41.—
B. Of threads of other sorts; “thus, of the thread of Ariadne,” Prop. 4 (5), 4, 42. “of the spider,” Ov. M. 6, 145; Plin. 11, 24, 28, § 80; “of a net,” id. 19, 1, 2, § 11; of the stamina of the lily, id. 21, 5, 11, § 23; the fibres of wood, id. 16, 38, 73, § 186; the strings of an instrument, Ov. M. 11, 169.—
C. (Pars pro toto.) A cloth made of threads; so the fillets of priests, Prop. 4 (5), 9, 52; Sil. 3, 25.—A garment, Claud. in Eutr. 1, 304; id. Laud. Stil. 2, 346; id. Rapt. Pros. 2, 34.