Lewis & Short

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† 1. spongĭa or spongĕa, ae, f., = σπογγιά.

  1. I. Lit., a sponge, Plin. 9, 45, 69, § 148; 31, 11, 47, § 123; Lucr. 4, 618; Cic. N. D. 2, 55, 136; id. Sest. 35, 77; Varr. ap. Non. 96, 14; Mart. 12, 48, 7; 14, 144, 1; Sen. Ep. 70, 20; id. Ira, 3, 19, 3; Suet. Vesp. 16.
  2. II. Transf., of things resembling a sponge.
    1. A. An open-worked coat of mail, Liv. 9, 40, 3: retiariorum, Tert. Spect. 25.
      In a double sense, with the signif. I.: Ajax in spongeam incubuit, Aug. ap. Macr. S. 2, 4; cf. Suet. Aug. 85.
    2. B. The root of some plants; of asparagus, Col. 11, 3, 43; Plin. 19, 8, 42, § 146; Pall. Febr. 24, 8; id. Mart. 9, 11; of mint, Plin. 19, 8, 47, § 159.
    3. C. A kind of porous stone, pumice-stone, Vitr. 2, 6; Pall. 1, 10, 3.
    4. D. A kind of moss, Plin. 19, 4, 22, § 63.
    5. E. Fragments of iron melted, Plin. 34, 14, 41, § 146.

spongĭus, a, um, adj. [spongia], spongy (late Lat.): lignum, Cassiod. Var. 11, 38.