manipulus
ὥσπερ λίθοι τε καὶ πλίνθοι καὶ ξύλα καὶ κέραμος, ἀτάκτως μὲν ἐρριμμένα οὐδὲν χρήσιμά ἐστιν → just as stones and bricks, woodwork and tiles, tumbled together in a heap are of no use at all (Xenophon, Memorabilia 3.1.7)
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
mănĭpŭlus: (sync. mănīplus, in poets; <number opt="n">plur.</number>:
I inter manipula, Spart. Hadrian. 10), i, m. manus-pleo, plenus, a handful, a bundle.
I Lit.: de his (herbis) manipulos fieri, Varr. R. R. 1, 49: manipulos obligare, Col. 11, 2, 40: vincire, id. 2, 19, 2: alligari, Plin. 18, 28, 67, § 262: filicumque maniplis Sternere humum, Verg. G. 3, 297: nexos deferre maniplos, Col. 10, 315: maniplos solvere, the bundles of hay, Juv. 8, 153.—
II Transf.
A = ἁλτῆρες>, pieces of metal held in the hand during gymnastic exercises, to increase the momentum of a leap or stroke, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 2, 38.—
B Because the ancient Romans adopted a pole, with a handful of hay or straw twisted about it, as the standard of a company of soldiers; in milit. lang., a certain number of soldiers belonging to the same standard, a company, maniple; generally applied to infantry, and only by way of exception to cavalry: miles pulcre centuriatus est expuncto in manipulo, Plaut. Curc. 4, 4, 29: pertica suspensos portabat longa maniplos: Unde maniplaris nomina miles habet, Ov. F. 3, 117: adeo ut iidem ordines, manipulique constarent, Caes. B. C. 2, 28: manipulos laxare, id. B. G. 2, 25: continere ad signa manipulos, id. ib. 6, 33: in legione sunt manipuli triginta, Gell. 16, 4, 6.—Of cavalry: infrenati manipli, Sil. 4, 316: App. M. 9, p. 221, 5.—Comically: manipulus farum, a troop, band, Ter. Eun. 4, 7, 6.
