I.a millstone; and usu. plur. molae, a mill (driven by slaves, animals, or water): “verbera, compedes, molae,” Plaut. Men. 5, 6, 9: molarum strepitum audire, Enn. ap. Non. 506, 4 (Com. 7 Vahl. p. 153): “molae oleariae duro et aspero lapide,” Varr. R. R. 1, 55: “trusatiles,” Gell. 3, 3, 14: “pumiceae,” Ov. F. 6, 318: “aquariae,” water-mills, Pall. 1, 42: “digni molam versare Nepotis,” Juv. 8, 67: “versatiles,” Plin. 36, 18, 29, § 135: “mola asinaria,” i. e. millstone, too heavy for a man to drive, Vulg. Matt. 18, 6; id. Marc. 9, 41: “molae olivariae,” Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 36.—
II. Transf.
A. Grits or grains of spelt coarsely ground and mixed with salt (hence called mola salsa), which it was customary to strew on the victims at sacrifices: mola etiam vocatur far tostum, et sale sparsum, quod eo molito hostiae aspergantur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 141 Müll.: “sparge molam,” Verg. E. 8, 82: “molam et vinum inspergere,” Cic. Div. 2, 16, 37: “aut molā salsā aut ture comprecari,” Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 109: “molā salsā supplicare,” Plin. 18, 2, 2, § 7: litare, id. praef. med.: “consumpsi salsasque molas et turis acervos,” Mart. 7, 5, 4.—
B. A false conception, moon-calf, mole, Plin. 7, 15, 13, § 63; 10, 64, 84, § 184.—
C. A jawbone, or the teeth: “molas leonum confringet,” Vulg. Psa. 57, 7.
