FISTU´CA
FISTU´CA an instrument used for ramming down
pavements and threshing-floors and the foundations of buildings (Cato,
Cat. Agr. 18,
28;
Plin. Nat. 36. § § 185,
186, 188;
Vitr. 3.3, s. 4.1; 10.3, s. 2.3); and
also for driving piles (
Caes. Gal. 4.17).
When used for the former purpose, that of making earth solid, it was no
doubt a mere log of wood (shod perhaps with iron), with handles to lift it
up; just like a paviour's rammer. But in the case cited from Caesar, where
it was used for driving the piles of his bridge over the Rhine, it is almost
evident that it must have been a machine, something like our pile-driving
engine (or monkey), by which a heavy log of wood, shod with iron, was lifted
up to a considerable height and then let fall on the head of the pile. It is
probable that
fistuca and
festuca are two forms of the same word and connected with
fustis. In the passages of Pliny
festuca, festucare are now read with MS. authority.
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