I.flax.
I. Lit.: “reticulum, tenuissimo lino,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27: “urit lini campum seges,” Verg. G. 1, 77; cf. Plin. 19 prooem. § 2; “19, 1, 1, § 9: lino legato tam factum quam infectum continetur, quodque netum quodque in tela est,” Dig. 32, 70, 11.—
II. Transf.
A. A thread, Cels. 7, 14: “consuto vulnere, crassum atque recens linum ostendit non una cicatrix,” Juv. 3, 151.—Esp., the thread with which letters were bound and legal instruments sealed: “effer cito stilum, ceram et tabellas et linum,” Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 64: “per ceram et linum litterasque interpretes salutem mittit,” id. Ps. 1, 1, 40: “linum incidimus, legimus,” Cic. Cat. 3, 5.—Hence: “solvere vincula epistolae,” to open a letter, Nep. Paus. 4, 1: “lino consignare tabulas,” Paul. Sent. 5, 25, 6: “easque tabulas proprio lino propriaque cera consignamus,” Gai. Inst. 2, 181: “linum ruptum,” Quint. 12, 8, 13.—
C. A linen cloth or garment, linen: “Massica Integrum perdunt lino vitiata saporem,” strained through linen, Hor. S. 2, 4, 54; Ov. F. 5, 519: “velati lino et verbena tempora cincti,” Verg. A. 12, 120: “lino vestiri aut lanis,” Mel. 3, 7, 3.—
D. A sail: lina sinu Tendere toto, Sen. Med. 320.—
E. A rope, cable: “subducere carbasa lino,” Ov. F. 3, 587.—
F. A net for hunting or fishing; a hunter's net, toils: “positarum lina plagarum,” Ov. M. 7, 768: “nec lina sequi nodosa sinebam,” id. ib. 7, 807; 3, 153.—A fisher's net, drag-net, Verg. G. 1, 142; Ov. M. 13, 931.—Plur., Juv. 5, 102: “cymbae linique magister,” i. e. the fisherman, id. 4, 45; Sil. 7, 503.—
G. A linen corselet, habergeon: “fugit hasta per oras Multiplicis lini,” Sil. 4, 292: “tempora multiplici mos est defendere lino,” id. 3, 272: “thorax Multiplicis lini,” id. 9, 587.—
H. A string of pearls: “uno lino decies sestertium inseritur,” Tert. Cult. Fem. 1, 9.—
