I.a bridge across a river, ditch, or marsh, between towers, etc.
I. In gen.: “pars oppidi mari disjuncta angusto, ponte rursus adjungitur et continetur,” Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 52, § “117: pontem in Arare faciendum curat,” to throw a bridge over the stream, Caes. B. G. 1, 13: in Isarā, flumine maximo, ponte uno die facto, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 15, 3: “in Histro flumine,” Nep. Milt. 3, 1; so, “inicere pontem,” Liv. 26, 6; Tac. A. 15, 19: “flumen ponte jungere,” Liv. 21, 45; Curt. 3, 7, 1: “amnem ponte junxit,” id. 4, 9, 9: “imponere pontem flumini,” id. 5, 1, 22: “pontibus palude constratā,” Hirt. B. G. 8, 14: “pontem navibus efficere,” Tac. A. 6, 37: “ponte flumen transgredi,” id. ib. 13, 39; “also: ponte flumen transmittere,” Plin. Ep. 8, 8; and: “ponte flumen traicere,” Flor. 4, 12, 22: “interscindere pontem,” to break down, Cic. Leg. 2, 4, 10; also, “rescindere,” Nep. Milt. 3, 4: “interrumpere,” Plaut. Cas. prol. 66; Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 3: “rumpere,” Quint. 2, 13, 16; Tac. A. 2, 68: “abrumpere,” id. H. 3, 6: “recidere,” Curt. 4, 16, 8: “solvere,” Tac. A. 1, 69: “dissolvere,” Nep. Them. 5, 1: “vellere,” Verg. A. 8, 650: “partem pontis rescindere,” Caes. B. G. 6, 29.—Esp., as a stand for beggars, Juv. 5, 8; cf. id. 4, 116: “aliquis de ponte,” i. e. a beggar, id. 14, 134.—Plur.: “plures dies efficiendis pontibus absumpti,” a bridge of several spans, Tac. A. 2, 8; 11, 13; Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 3; cf. id. ib. 10, 18, 4.—
II. In partic.
A. The bridge at the Comitia, over which the voters passed one by one to the septum, to deposit their votes, Cic. Att. 1, 14, 5; Auct. Her. 1, 12, 21; Ov. F. 5, 634. Hence the proverb: sexagenarios de ponte; v. sexagenarius.—
B. A wooden drawbridge, to be let down from besieging towers to the walls of a town or fortress, Tac. A. 4, 51; Suet. Aug. 20.—
C. A plank bridge thrown from a vessel to the shore, Verg. A. 10, 288 and 654; Liv. 21, 28.—
D. The deck of a ship on which the military engines were placed, Tac. A. 2, 6.—
E. A floor of a tower, Verg. A. 9, 530; 12, 675.—
F. A wooden bridge on a narrow wall between two towers, Verg. A. 9, 170.