Lewis & Short

† līnum, i, n. [Gr. λίνον; Goth. lein; Germ. Leinwand; Engl. linen], flax.

  1. I. Lit.: reticulum, tenuissimo lino, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27: urit lini campum seges, Verg. G. 1, 77; cf. Plin. 19 prooem. § 2; 19, 1, 1, § 9: lino legato tam factum quam infectum continetur, quodque netum quodque in tela est, Dig. 32, 70, 11.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. A thread, Cels. 7, 14: consuto vulnere, crassum atque recens linum ostendit non una cicatrix, Juv. 3, 151.
      Esp., the thread with which letters were bound and legal instruments sealed: effer cito stilum, ceram et tabellas et linum, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 64: per ceram et linum litterasque interpretes salutem mittit, id. Ps. 1, 1, 40: linum incidimus, legimus, Cic. Cat. 3, 5.
      Hence: solvere vincula epistolae, to open a letter, Nep. Paus. 4, 1: lino consignare tabulas, Paul. Sent. 5, 25, 6: easque tabulas proprio lino propriaque cera consignamus, Gai. Inst. 2, 181: linum ruptum, Quint. 12, 8, 13.
    2. B. A fishing line: nunc in mole sedens moderabar arundine linum, Ov. M. 13, 923.
    3. C. A linen cloth or garment, linen: Massica Integrum perdunt lino vitiata saporem, strained through linen, Hor. S. 2, 4, 54; Ov. F. 5, 519: velati lino et verbena tempora cincti, Verg. A. 12, 120: lino vestiri aut lanis, Mel. 3, 7, 3.
    4. D. A sail: lina sinu Tendere toto, Sen. Med. 320.
    5. E. A rope, cable: subducere carbasa lino, Ov. F. 3, 587.
  3. F. A net for hunting or fishing; a hunter’s net, toils: positarum lina plagarum, Ov. M. 7, 768: nec lina sequi nodosa sinebam, id. ib. 7, 807; 3, 153.
    A fisher’s net, drag-net, Verg. G. 1, 142; Ov. M. 13, 931.
    Plur., Juv. 5, 102: cymbae linique magister, i. e. the fisherman, id. 4, 45; Sil. 7, 503.
  4. G. A linen corselet, habergeon: fugit hasta per oras Multiplicis lini, Sil. 4, 292: tempora multiplici mos est defendere lino, id. 3, 272: thorax Multiplicis lini, id. 9, 587.
  5. H. A string of pearls: uno lino decies sestertium inseritur, Tert. Cult. Fem. 1, 9.
  6. K. A lampwick: fumigans, Vulg. Isa. 42, 3; Tert. adv. Marc. 4, 23: ardens, id. adv. Jud. 9.