gladiolus
From LSJ
ἢ λέγε τι σιγῆς κρεῖττον ἢ σιγὴν ἔχε → either say something better than silence or keep silence (Menander)
Latin > English (Lewis & Short)
glădĭŏlus: i, m.
dim. gladius.
I A small sword: lingulam veteres dixere gladiolum oblongum, in speciem linguae factum, Gell. 10, 25, 3: gladiolo solito cinctus, App. M. 2, p. 122; 3, p. 131.—In plur. heterocl. glădĭŏla: nec gladiola (quisquam ferat), atqui Messala dixit, Quint. 1, 6, 42 (cf. gladius init.).—
B Glădĭŏlus, i, title of a comedy by Livius Andronicus, Fest. s. v. pedibus, p. 210 b. Müll.—
II The sword-lily, Plin. 21, 11, 38, § 65; 21, 17, 67, § 107 sq.; al. Pall. 1, 37.
