- pluma
- plūma, ae, f., a small, soft feather; in plur., fine, soft feathers, down.I.Lit. (clas.;II.
syn. penna): (animantium) pluma alias, alias squamā videmus obductas,
Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121:plumae versicolores,
id. Fin. 3, 5, 18:mollis,
Verg. A. 10, 192:in plumis delituisse Jovem,
i. e. in the form of a swan, Ov. H. 8, 68.—They were used esp. for stuffing pillows and the beds of litters:dormit in plumā,
Mart. 12, 17, 8:pensilibus plumis vehi,
i. e. in litters, Juv. 1, 159:in plumā paternā dormire,
id. 6, 88. —Also in clothing:non avium plumae in usum vestium conseruntur?
Sen. Ep. 90, 14.—As an image of lightness, triviality, insignificance, like feather with us:homo levior quam pluma,
Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 23:levior plumā est gratia,
id. Poen. 3, 6, 17:ipsi plumā aut folio facilius moventur,
Cic. Att. 8, 15, 2:pluma haud interest, patronus, an cliens probior siet,
there is not a pin to choose, Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 60.—Transf.A.Of the first beard, down ( poet. ):B.insperata tuae cum veniet pluma superbiae,
Hor. C. 4, 10, 2.—The scales on a coat of mail, Stat. Th. 11, 542; cf.:equus, quem pellis aënis In plumam squamis auro conserta tegebat,
i. e. scales of brass overlaid on a skin, Verg. A. 11, 771 Serv. and Heyn. ad loc.:equis operimenta erant, quae lintea ferreis laminis in modum plumae adnexuerant,
Sall. H. 4, 59 Dietsch.
Lewis & Short Latin Dictionary, 1879. - Revised, Enlarged, and in Great Part Rewritten. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and Charles Short. 2011.