plumbum

plumbum, i, n. [for mlumbum; Gr. molmbos, molubdos], lead.

I.

Lit.

A.

In gen.:

dolia plumbo vincito,

Cato, R. R. 39:

plumbum album,

tin, Lucr. 6, 1079; Caes. B. G. 5, 12;

called also candidum,

Plin. 34, 16, 47, § 157;

but plumbum nigrum,

lead, id. 34, 16, 47, § 159.—

B.

In partic.

1.

A leaden ball or bullet ( poet. ):

Balearica plumbum Funda jacit,

Ov. M. 2, 727; Verg. A. 9, 587.—

2.

Leaden pipes ( poet. ):

purior in vicis aqua tendit rumpere plumbum,

Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 20.—

3.

A scourge with a leaden ball at the end of it ( poet. ), Prud. steph. 10. 116.—

4.

A pencil or ruler:

membrana plumbo directa,

Cat. 22, 7.—

II.

Transf., a defect in the eye (post-Aug.): [p. 1389] plumbum (quod est genus vitii) ex oculo tollitur, Plin. 25, 13, 97, § 155.