mŏla, ae, f. [cf. μύλη, μύλος, mill, millstone; μύλαι, grinders, molar-teeth; cf. molaris],
I a millstone; and usu. plur. molae, a mill (driven by slaves, animals, or water): verbera, compedes, molae, Plaut. Men. 5, 6, 9: molarum strepitum audire, Enn. ap. Non. 506, 4 (Com. 7 Vahl. p. 153): molae oleariae duro et aspero lapide, Varr. R. R. 1, 55: trusatiles, Gell. 3, 3, 14: pumiceae, Ov. F. 6, 318: aquariae, water-mills , Pall. 1, 42: digni molam versare Nepotis, Juv. 8, 67: versatiles, Plin. 36, 18, 29, § 135: mola asinaria, i. e. millstone, too heavy for a man to drive , Vulg. Matt. 18, 6; id. Marc. 9, 41: molae olivariae, Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 36.—
II Transf.
A Grits or grains of spelt coarsely ground and mixed with salt (hence called mola salsa), which it was customary to strew on the victims at sacrifices: mola etiam vocatur far tostum, et sale sparsum, quod eo molito hostiae aspergantur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 141 Müll.: sparge molam, Verg. E. 8, 82: molam et vinum inspergere, Cic. Div. 2, 16, 37: aut molā salsā aut ture comprecari, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 109: molā salsā supplicare, Plin. 18, 2, 2, § 7: litare, id. praef. med. (11): consumpsi salsasque molas et turis acervos, Mart. 7, 5, 4.—
B A false conception, moon-calf, mole , Plin. 7, 15, 13, § 63; 10, 64, 84, § 184.—
C A jawbone , or the teeth : molas leonum confringet, Vulg. Psa. 57, 7.