līnum, i, n. [Gr. λίνον; Goth. lein; Germ. Leinwand; Engl. linen], flax.
I Lit.: reticulum, tenuissimo lino, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 11, § 27: urit lini campum seges, Verg. G. 1, 77; cf. Plin. 19 prooem. § 2; 19, 1, 1, § 9: lino legato tam factum quam infectum continetur, quodque netum quodque in tela est, Dig. 32, 70, 11.—
II Transf.
A A thread , Cels. 7, 14: consuto vulnere, crassum atque recens linum ostendit non una cicatrix, Juv. 3, 151.—Esp., the thread with which letters were bound and legal instruments sealed : effer cito stilum, ceram et tabellas et linum, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 4, 64: per ceram et linum litterasque interpretes salutem mittit, id. Ps. 1, 1, 40: linum incidimus, legimus, Cic. Cat. 3, 5.—Hence: solvere vincula epistolae, to open a letter , Nep. Paus. 4, 1: lino consignare tabulas, Paul. Sent. 5, 25, 6: easque tabulas proprio lino propriaque cera consignamus, Gai. Inst. 2, 181: linum ruptum, Quint. 12, 8, 13.—
B A fishing line : nunc in mole sedens moderabar arundine linum, Ov. M. 13, 923.—
C A linen cloth or garment, linen : Massica Integrum perdunt lino vitiata saporem, strained through linen , Hor. S. 2, 4, 54; Ov. F. 5, 519: velati lino et verbena tempora cincti, Verg. A. 12, 120: lino vestiri aut lanis, Mel. 3, 7, 3.—
D A sail : lina sinu Tendere toto, Sen. Med. 320.—
E A rope, cable : subducere carbasa lino, Ov. F. 3, 587.—
F A net for hunting or fishing; a hunter's net, toils : positarum lina plagarum, Ov. M. 7, 768: nec lina sequi nodosa sinebam, id. ib. 7, 807; 3, 153.— A fisher's net, drag-net , Verg. G. 1, 142; Ov. M. 13, 931.— Plur. , Juv. 5, 102: cymbae linique magister, i. e. the fisherman , id. 4, 45; Sil. 7, 503.—
G A linen corselet, habergeon : fugit hasta per oras Multiplicis lini, Sil. 4, 292: tempora multiplici mos est defendere lino, id. 3, 272: thorax Multiplicis lini, id. 9, 587.—
H A string of pearls : uno lino decies sestertium inseritur, Tert. Cult. Fem. 1, 9.—
K A lampwick : fumigans, Vulg. Isa. 42, 3; Tert. adv. Marc. 4, 23: ardens, id. adv. Jud. 9.