pluma: Difference between revisions

|lshtext=<b>plūma</b>: ae, f.,<br /><b>I</b> a [[small]], [[soft]] [[feather]]; in <[[number]] opt="n">plur.</[[number]]>, [[fine]], [[soft]] feathers, [[down]].<br /><b>I</b> 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.—<br /><b>II</b> Transf.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> Of the [[first]] [[beard]], [[down]] ([[poet]].): insperata tuae cum veniet [[pluma]] superbiae, Hor. C. 4, 10, 2.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</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.