cŏrĭum, ii, n. (ante-class. cŏrĭus, ii, m., Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 11; id. Fragm. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 60, 7; Sillig reads caros in both places; Varr. ap. Non. p. 199, 16) [for scorium, kindr. with scortum; Sanscr. kar; old Germ. sceran; Gr. χόριον],
I skin, hide, leather.
A In gen.
1 Prop., of animals, Cato R. R. 135, 3; Varr. L. L. 7, § 84 Müll.; Lucr. 4, 935; Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121; Caes. B. G. 7, 22; Plin. 13, 9, 19, § 63 et saep.: corium formā publicā percussum, of the leather money of the Lacedaemonians , Sen. Ben. 5, 14, 4.—
2 Of human beings, only in comic or contemptuous sense: Erus meus elephanti corio circumtentust, non suo, Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 80; cf. B. 3. infra. —
B In partic.
1 Of plants, rind, skin, bark, covering, shell , etc., Plin. 15, 28, 34, § 112; Pall. Jan. 15, 12; Dig. 32, 52.—
2 Of paper , Plin. 13, 12, 24, § 79.—
3 Prov.: alicui corium concidere, to curry his hide , i.e. to beat him , Plaut. Am. prol. 85; cf.: fiet tibi puniceum corium, postea atrum denuo, id. Rud. 4, 3, 61: Hercle detegetur corium de tergo meo, id. Ep. 1, 1, 65; Varr. ap. Non. l. l.: satis facere alicui de corio alicujus, Sen. Suas. 7, p. 53 Bip.: petere corium, to flog , Cic. Tull. 24, 54; Sen. Const. 14, 2: canis a corio numquam absterrebitur uncto, i. e. habits stick closely , like the Gr. χαλεπὸν χορίῳ κύνα γεῦσαι, it is bad to let the dog taste leather , Hor. S. 2, 5, 83; and: de alieno corio ludere, i. e. at another's expense , Ap. Met. 7, 11, 25; cf. Tert. Pall. 3; and: corio suo ludere, at one's own expense , Mart. 3, 16, 4.—
II Meton.
A A leather whip, thong , or strap , Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 11; Auct. Her. 1, 13, 23.—
B In building, the upper surface, a layer, stratum of earth, lime , etc.: pavimenti, Cato R. R. 18, 7: harenae, Vitr. 7, 3, 8: summum laterum, id. 2, 3: parietum, id. 2, 8; Pall. 1, 17; cf. id. 1, 15: terrae, Plin. 31, 3, 28, § 47.—So of the building of the bees, Plin. 11, 7, 6, § 16.