I.a thin plate of metal, gold-leaf (thicker plates of metal are called laminae; cf. Isid. Orig. 16, 18, 2: bractea dicitur tenuissima lamina): aranea bratteaque auri, * Lucr. 4, 729: “leni crepitabat brattea vento,” Verg. A. 6, 209: “inspice, quam tenuis bractea ligna tegat,” Ov. A. A. 3, 232; Mart. 8, 33, 6; Plin. 33, 3, 19, § 61; cf. “argenteae,” id. 37, 7, 31, § 105.—
B. Poet.: “viva,” the golden fleece of Spanish sheep, Mart. 9, 62, 4.—
C. Meton., thin layers of wood, veneers (opp. lamina): “ligni,” Plin. 16, 43, 84, § 232.—
II. Trop., show, glitter: eloquentiae, Sol. praef. 2.