Lewis & Short

lăter, ĕris, m. [Sanscr. root prath-, widen; prathas, breadth; Gr. πλατύς, πλάτος], a brick, tile.

  1. I. Lit.: nil mirum, vetus est maceria, lateres si veteres ruunt, Plaut. Truc. 2, 2, 49 sqq.: in latere aut in caemento, ex quibus urbs effecta est, Cic. Div. 2, 47, 98; cf.: paries crudo latere ac luto constructus, Col. 9, 1, 2: contabulationem summam lateribus lutoque constraverunt, Caes. B. C. 2, 9: lateres de terra ducere, to make, Vitr. 2, 3, 1: lateres coquere, to burn, id. 1, 5: sepimentum e lateribus coctilibus, burnt bricks, Varr. R. R. 1, 14, 4.
    Prov.: laterem lavare, to wash a brick, = πλίνθον πλύνειν, i. e. to wash the color out of a brick, to labor in vain, Ter. Phorm. 1, 4, 8; but cf. Lucil. Sat. 9, 19.
  2. II. Transf.: lateres aurei, argentei, bars, ingots, or wedges of gold, of silver, Plin. 33, 3, 17, § 56; Varr. ap. Non. 131, 15; 520, 17.