Lewis & Short

2. lŭtum, i, n. (lŭtus, i, m., Quadrig. ap. Non. 212, 17) [luo], mud, mire.

  1. I. Lit.: volutari in luto, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 24, § 53: cratesque luto integuntur, Caes. B. C. 2, 15; Quadrig. ap. Non. 212, 17: imbre lutoque Aspersus, Hor. Ep. 1, 11, 11: luto perfusa porticus, Juv. 14, 66: pinguia crura luto, id. 3, 247: luto opplere aliquem, Suet. Vesp. 5: in longa via et pulvis et lutum et pluvia, Sen. Ep. 96, 3: si quis aliquem luto obliniverit, Paul. Sent. 5, 4, 13: te pervolvam in luto, Ter. And. 4, 4, 38.
    In plur.: luta et limum aggerebant, Cic. Fragm. ap. Non. 212, 16.
    Prov.: in luto esse or haerere, to stick in the mud, i. e. to be at a dead stop, unable to proceed: nunc homo in medio luto est: Nomen nescit, Plaut. Ps. 4, 2, 27: neque mihi haud imperito eveniet, tali ut in luto haeream, id. Pers. 4, 3, 66: in eodem haesitas luto, Ter. Phorm. 5, 2, 15; cf. Lact. 2, 8, 24; 7, 2, 3: pro luto esse, to be as cheap as dirt: pro luto erat annona, Petr. 44: omnia pro luto habere, id. 67, 10; cf. id. 51, 6.
    As a term of reproach, mud, filth: ludis me. Pa. Tum mihi sunt manus inquinatae. Sc. Quidum? Pa. Quia ludo luto, Plaut. Mil. 2, 3, 54; id. Most. 5, 2, 45: Lutum lenonium, commictum caeno stercilinum publicum! id. Pers. 3, 5, 2; 9; Cat. 42, 13: O tenebrae, o lutum, o sordes, offscouring of the earth, Cic. Pis. 26, 62.
  2. II. Transf.
    1. A. Loam, clay, potter’s clay: pocula de facili luto componere, Tib. 1, 1, 40: ficta Saguntino cymbia malo luto, Mart. 8, 6, 2: quibus arte benigna Et meliore luto finxit praecordia Titan, of better clay, i. e. of better materials, Juv. 14, 34; cf. Pers. 3, 23: homines compositi luto, Juv. 6, 13.
    2. B. The dust with which wrestlers besprinkled themselves, Sen. Ep. 88, 18.