I. Lit.: “de his (herbis) manipulos fieri,” Varr. R. R. 1, 49: “manipulos obligare,” Col. 11, 2, 40: “vincire,” id. 2, 19, 2: “alligari,” Plin. 18, 28, 67, § 262: “filicumque maniplis Sternere humum,” Verg. G. 3, 297: “nexos deferre maniplos,” Col. 10, 315: “maniplos solvere,” the bundles of hay, Juv. 8, 153.—
II. Transf.
A. = ἁλτῆρες, pieces of metal held in the hand during gymnastic exercises, to increase the momentum of a leap or stroke, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 2, 38.—
B. Because the ancient Romans adopted a pole, with a handful of hay or straw twisted about it, as the standard of a company of soldiers; in milit. lang., a certain number of soldiers belonging to the same standard, a company, maniple; generally applied to infantry, and only by way of exception to cavalry: “miles pulcre centuriatus est expuncto in manipulo,” Plaut. Curc. 4, 4, 29: “pertica suspensos portabat longa maniplos: Unde maniplaris nomina miles habet,” Ov. F. 3, 117: “adeo ut iidem ordines, manipulique constarent,” Caes. B. C. 2, 28: “manipulos laxare,” id. B. G. 2, 25: “continere ad signa manipulos,” id. ib. 6, 33: “in legione sunt manipuli triginta,” Gell. 16, 4, 6.—Of cavalry: “infrenati manipli,” Sil. 4, 316: App. M. 9, p. 221, 5.—Comically: manipulus farum, a troop, band, Ter. Eun. 4, 7, 6.
