Lewis & Short

stāmen, ĭnis, n. [sto], the warp in the upright loom of the ancients (cf.: trama, subtemen).

  1. I. Lit., Varr. L. L. 5, § 113 Müll.; Tib. 1, 3, 86; Ov. M. 6, 54 sq.; 6, 576; 4, 275; 4, 397 al.
  2. II. Transf., in gen.
    1. A. A thread hanging from the distaff: aut ducunt lanas aut stamina pollice versant, Ov. M. 4, 34; 4, 179; 4, 221; 12, 475: operoso stamine, id. A. A. 1, 695: et minuent plenas stamina nostra colos, id. H. 3, 76: deducere plenā stamina longa colu, Tib. 1, 3, 86; 1, 6, 78: digitis dum torques stamina duris, Ov. H. 9, 79.
      Of the threads of the Parcae, Tib. 1, 7, 2; 3, 3, 36; Ov. M. 8, 453; id. Tr. 5, 13, 24; 4, 1, 63; Luc. 3, 19; 6, 777.
      Hence, de legibus queri Fatorum et nimio de stamine, too long a thread of life, Juv. 10, 252.
      Poet.: fallebam stamine somnum, i. e. by spinning, Prop. 1, 3, 41.
    2. B. Of threads of other sorts; thus, of the thread of Ariadne, Prop. 4 (5), 4, 42; of the spider, Ov. M. 6, 145; Plin. 11, 24, 28, § 80; of a net, id. 19, 1, 2, § 11; of the stamina of the lily, id. 21, 5, 11, § 23; the fibres of wood, id. 16, 38, 73, § 186; the strings of an instrument, Ov. M. 11, 169.
    3. C. (Pars pro toto.) A cloth made of threads; so the fillets of priests, Prop. 4 (5), 9, 52; Sil. 3, 25.
      A garment, Claud. in Eutr. 1, 304; id. Laud. Stil. 2, 346; id. Rapt. Pros. 2, 34.