lacinia

A New Latin Dictionary by Charlton T. Lewis Ph.D. and Charles Short, LL. D.

lăcĭnĭa, ae, f. [v. lacus, lacer], the lappet, flap, edge, or corner of a garment.

I Lit.: sume laciniam atque absterge sudorem tibi, Plaut. Merc. 1, 2, 16: aliquem lacinia tenere, id. As. 3, 2, 41: in lacinia servare ex mensa secunda semina, Cic. Fil. Fam. 16, 21, 7: consurgenti ei primum lacinia obhaesit, Suet. Ner. 19: togae, id. Calig. 35; id. Claud. 15.—

2 In gen., a garment (post-class.): detraxit umeris laciniam, Petr. S. 12; Ap. Met. 3, 21, 11; 6, 3, 13; Macr. S. 2, 3; Vulg. Thren. 4, 14 et saep.—

B Transf.

1 Of cattle, the dewlap : laciniae dependentes, Plin. 8, 50, 76, § 202.—

2 A small piece or part : porrum et allium serunt in laciniis colligatum, Plin. 19, 7, 36, § 120: folii, id. 15, 30, 39, § 130: gregem in lacinias distribuere, Col. 7, 5, 3.—Hence, also, a small strip or spot of land : quoniam id oppidum velut in lacinia erat, Plin. 5, 32, 43, § 148; id. 36, 13, 19, § 85.—

II Trop.: aliquid obtinere laciniā, by the lappet , i. e. hardly, with difficulty, without a firm hold upon it , Cic. de Or. 3, 28, 110.