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lĭgŭla and lingŭla (v. infra), ae, f. dim. from lingua: “quamvis me ligulam dicant Equitesque Patresque, Dicor ab indoctis lingula grammaticis,Mart. 14, 120,
I.a little tongue; hence, transf.
II. The tongue of a shoe, a shoe-strap, shoe-latchet: lingula per diminutionem linguae dicta; alias a similitudine linguae exsertae, ut in calceis, alias insertae, id est intra dentes coërcitae, ut in tibiis, Paul. ex Fest. p. 116 Müll.: “habet Trebius, propter quod rumpere somnum debeat et ligulas dimittere,Juv. 5, 20; Mart. 2, 29, 7.—As a term of reproach: “ligula, i in malam crucem,Plaut. Poen. 5, 5, 30.—
III. A spoon or ladle for skimming a pot, a skimmer: “isque (musteus fructus) saepius ligula purgandus est,Col. 9, 5 fin.—For taking out and dropping aromatic essences: “inde lingulis eligunt florem,Plin. 21, 14, 49, § 84.—For preserves, Cato, R. R. 84.—
B. As a measure, a spoonful: “duarum aut trium lingularum mensura,Plin. 20, 5, 18, § 36.—
IV. A small sword, Naev. ap. Gell. 10, 25, 3; ct. Varr. L. L. 7, § 107 Müll.—
V. The tongue or reed of a flute, Plin. 16, 36, 66, § 171; cf. under II. the passage cited from Paul. ex Fest. p. 116 Müll.—
VI. The pointed end of a post or stake, which was inserted into something, a tongue, tenon: “lingulae edolatae,Col. 8, 11, 4.—
VII. The short arm of a lever, which is placed under the weight to be raised: “si sub onus vectis lingula subjecta fuerit,Vitr. 10, 8.—
VIII. The tongueshaped extremity of a water-pipe, by which it is fitted into another, Vitr. 8, 7.—
IX. The tongue of a scale-beam: examen est ligula et lignum, quod mediam hastam ad pondera adaequanda tenet, Schol. ad Pers. 1, 6.—
X. A tongue-shaped member of the cuttle-fish: “loliginum ligulas,App. Mag. p. 297, 5.
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hide References (10 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (10):
    • Caesar, Gallic War, 3.12
    • Plautus, Poenulus, 5.5
    • Vitruvius, On Architecture, 10.8
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 20.36
    • Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia, 21.84
    • Gellius, Noctes Atticae, 10.25.3
    • Persius, Saturae, 1
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 8.11.4
    • Columella, Res Rustica, 9.5
    • Martial, Epigrammata, 14.120
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