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spīra , ae, f., = σπεῖρα.
I. That which is wound, wreathed, coiled, or twisted; a coil, fold, twist, spire (cf. orbis); “of a serpent,” Verg. G. 2, 154; id. A. 2, 217; Ov. M. 3, 77.—Of the grain of wood, Plin. 16, 39, 76, § 198.—Of the intestines, Lact. Opif. Dei, 11, § 16.—
II. Concr.: “spira dicitur et basis columnae unius tori aut duorum, et genus operis pistorii, et funis nauticus in orbem convolutus, ab eādem omnes similitudine. Pacuvius: Quid cessatis, socii, ejicere spiras sparteas? Ennius quidem hominum multitudinem ita appellat, cum ait: spiras legionibus nexunt,” Fest. p. 300 Müll. (Ann. v. 501 Vahl., where the read. is nexit).—So,
A. The base of a column, Vitr. 3, 3; 4, 1; Plin. 36, 23, 56, § 179.—
B. A kind of twisted cake, a twist, cracknel, Cato, R. R. 77.—
C. A coil of rope, Pac. ap. Fest. l. l.—
D. A braid of hair, Plin. 9, 35, 58, § 117; Val. Fl. 6, 396.—
E. A twisted tie for fastening the hat under the chin, Juv. 8, 208.—
F. A confused crowd of men, Enn. ap. Fest. l. l.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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hide References (6 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (6):
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 2.217
    • Vergil, Georgics, 2.154
    • Vitruvius, On Architecture, 4.1
    • Vitruvius, On Architecture, 3.3
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 3.77
    • C. Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica, 6.396
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