fŏlĭum, ii, n. [Gr. φύλλον, for φυλyον; cf. alius, ἄλλος; root prob. φλα-, φλασμός; Lat. flos, Flora], a leaf (cf. frons).
I Lit., of plants: quid in arboribus? in quibus non truncus, non rami, non folia sunt denique, nisi, etc., Cic. de Or. 3, 46, 179: latissima (folia) fico, angusta myrto, capillata pino, aculeata aquifolio, etc., Plin. 16, 24, 38, § 90: concava caepae, id. 19, 6, 31, § 100: foliis ex arboribus strictis, Caes. B. C. 3, 58, 3: mobilia, Hor. C. 1, 23, 5: amara, id. S. 2, 3, 114: arida laureae, Cic. Pis. 40, 97.— Prov.: folia nunc cadunt, si triduom hoc hic erimus, tum arbores in te cadent, Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 24.—As a proverb of mobility or changeableness: nec me consules movent, qui ipsi pluma aut folio facilius moventur, Cic. Att. 8, 15, 2.—The Sibyl wrote her oracles on leaves (acc. to Varro, on palmleaves), Verg. A. 3, 444; 6, 74 Serv.; hence, prov.: credite me vobis folium recitare Sibyllae, i. e. I am talking gospel , absolute truth , Juv. 8, 126.—*
II Trop., a thing of no consequence , a trifle : folia sunt artis et nugae merae, Ap. Met. 1, 8, 21.—
III Transf., a leaf of paper (late Lat. for plagula, charta, or schedula): ille manu retractis in calcem foliis sic exorsus est, Macr. S. 5, 4, 1. (In Plin. 37, 7, 29, § 103, the better read. is fila; v. Jan. and Sillig, ad h. l.).