I.nom. sing. only Veg. Art. Vet. 1, 56, 5; acc. sing. cratim, Plaut. Poen. 5, 2, 65), f. Sanscr. kart, to spin; cf. crassus, wicker-work, a hurdle.
I. Lit.
A. In gen.
1. Sing. (rare): “flexilis,” Plin. 16, 40, 77, § 209; 10, 44, 61, § 126: “juncea,” id. 21, 14, 49, § 84; Juv. 11, 82.—
2. Plur. (so most freq.; and by the ancient gram. sometimes regarded as plur. tantum; “v. Neue, Formenl. I. p. 455),” Cato, R. R. 10, 2; 11, 4; Verg. A. 11, 64; Hor. Epod. 2, 45; Col. 12, 15, 1 al.—
B. Esp.
1. A harrow; sing., Plin. 18, 16, 43, § 145; 18, 20, 49, § 180; 18, 18, 48, § 173.—Plur., Verg. G. 1, 94.—
2. A hurdle with which criminals were covered, and on which stones were thrown; sing., Plaut. Poen. 5, 2, 65; Liv. 1, 51, 9; 4, 50, 4; Tac. G. 12.—
3. Milit., fascines, Caes. B. G. 4, 17; 5, 40; Liv. 10, 38, 5; Tac. A. 1, 68 al. —As a covering for besiegers in attacks, Curt. 5, 3, 7.—
5. = testudo, the interlocked shields of a rank of soldiers, Luc. 3, 485.—
II. Transf., a joint, rib, etc.: “pectoris,” Verg. A. 12, 508: “laterum,” Ov. M. 12, 370; cf. “spinae,” the joints of the backbone, id. ib. 8, 806: “favorum,” honey-comb, Verg. G. 4, 214: “cratem facit vitis,” grows confusedly, Col. 4, 2, 1 al.
