ărista, ae, f. [perh. for acrista and akin to ācer, q. v., or perh. to aro, q. v.; cf. Germ. Aehre; Engl. ear (of corn); Germ. Ernte, harvest; Engl. earnest, fruit, pledge].
I The awn or beard of grain : arista, quae ut acus tenuis longa eminete glumā; proinde ut granitheca sit gluma, et apex arista, Varr. R. R. 1, 48; * Cic. Sen. 15, 51; Ov. H. 5, 111; id. Tr. 4, 1, 57.—
II Meton. (pars pro toto).
A The ear itself : maturae aristae, Ov. F. 5, 357: pinguis arista, Verg. G. 1, 8; 1, 111; id. A. 7, 720.—Also, an ear of spikenard , Ov. M. 15, 398.—Hence,
2 Poet., summer : Post aliquot, mea regna videns, mirabor aristas, after some harvests , Verg. E. 1, 70: necdum decimas emensus aristas Aggrederis metuenda viris, having measured ten summers , Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 371 (cf. at the next grass, for next summer , an expression still common in the north of England; so, seven years old at the next grass, Sylvester's Dubartas; just fifteen, coming summer's grass, Swift).—
B Poet. transf.,
1 Of the hair of men , Pers. 3, 115. —
2 Of the bones of fishes , Aus. Mos. 85; 119.—
3 Of plants in gen., Val. Fl. 6, 365.