fūnis, is, m. (fem., Lucr. 2, 1154; ap. Gell. 13, 20, 21, and Non. 205, 22; cf. Quint. 1, 6, 6) [perh. for fudnis, root in Sanscr. bandh-, bind; cf. Gr. πεῖσμα, rope; kindr. with σχοῖνος],
I a rope , sheet , line , cord (syn.: restis, rudens): funes dicti, quod antea in usum luminis circumdati cera, unde et funalia, Isid. Orig. 19, 4; Cato R. R. 135, 4; Varr. R. R. 1, 22; Caes. B. G. 3, 13, 5; 3, 14, 6; 4, 29, 3 al.; Plin. 16, 1, 1, § 4; Verg. A. 2, 262; Ov. M. 8, 777 et saep.: patiatur necesse est illam per funes ingredientium tarditatem, i. e. of the rope-dancers , Quint. 2, 14, 16.—
2 Prov.
a Funem ducere or sequi, to lead or follow the rope , i. e. to command or serve (the fig. being most probably that of an animal led by a rope): imperat aut servit collecta pecunia cuique, Tortum digna sequi potius quam ducere funem, Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 48.—
b Funem reducere, to pull back the rope , i. e. to change one's mind , Pers. 5, 118.—
c Funem in diversa distendere, to dispute pro and con , Tert. Pudic. 2; adv. Marc. 4.—
d Ut, quod aiunt Graeci, ex incomprehensibili parvitate arenae funise effici non possit (Gr. ἐξ ἄμμου σχοινίον πλέκειν), to make a rope of sand , i. e. to perform the impossible , Col. 10 praef. § 4 fin.