fibula

fībŭla (post-class. contr. fibla, Apic. 8, 7; Inscr. Orell. 2952; plur. heterocl.: fibula, ōrum, n., Spart. Hadr. 10, 5), ae, f. [contr. from figibula, from figo], that which serves to fasten two things together, a clasp, buckle, pin, latchet, brace.

I.

In gen.

A.

Lit.:

ubi fibula vestem, Vitta coercuerat neglectos alba capillos,

Ov. M. 2, 412;

so on clothes (frequently set with gold and precious stones, and given as a mark of honor to deserving soldiers),

Verg. A. 4, 139; 5, 313; 12, 274; Liv. 27, 19, 12; 39, 31, 18:

fibula crinem Auro internectat,

Verg. A. 7, 815: trabes binis utrimque fibulis ab extrema parte distinebantur, braces, * Caes. B. G. 4, 17, 6; Vitr. 1, 5:

iligneae, ulmeae, etc.,

bands, fillets for making baskets, Cato, R. R. 31, 1.—

B.

Transf.:

P. Blessus Junium hominem nigrum, et macrum, et pandum, fibulam ferream dixit,

Quint. 6, 3, 58.— Trop.:

sententia clavi aliquā vel fibulā terminanda est,

connection, Fronto Laud. Fun. 1:

laxare fibulam delictis voluntariis,

bonds, fetters, Tert. Cor. Mil. 11.—

II.

In partic.

A.

A surgical instrument for drawing together the lips of a wound, Gr. anktêr, Cels. 5, 26, 23; 7, 4.—

B.

A stitching-needle drawn through the prepuce, Cels. 7, 25, 3; Mart. 7, 82, 1; 11, 75, 8; Juv. 6, 73; 379; Sen. ap. Lact. 1, 16; Tert. Cor. Mil. 11; id. Pudic. 16.