pluma

plūma, ae, f., a small, soft feather; in plur., fine, soft feathers, down.

I.

Lit. (clas.;

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.—

II.

Transf.

A.

Of the first beard, down ( poet. ):

insperata tuae cum veniet pluma superbiae,

Hor. C. 4, 10, 2.—

B.

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.