parma (or in the collat. form pal-ma, Tib. 1, 9, 82; and so many MSS. in Prop. 2, 19, 44 (3, 20, 8); 4 (5), 10, 40; Liv. 22, 1, 9), ae (old gen. parmaï, Lucr. 4, 847), f., = πάρμη, a small, round shield, a target, carried by the light infantry and the cavalry.
I Lit.: configunt parmam, Enn. ap. Macr. S. 6, 3 (Ann. v. 432 Vahl.); Varr. ap. Non. 552, 30: desiliunt ex equis, provolant in primum agmen et pro antesignanis parmas obiciunt, Liv. 2, 20; 2, 6, 9; 31, 35 fin. : hic miles (veles) tripedalem parmam habet, id. 38, 21 fin. ; 26, 4; Sall. Fragm. ap. Non. 554, 23: picta fulgebat, Prop. 4, 10, 21.—
II Transf.
A In gen., a shield (poet.): (Pallas) parmamque ferens hastamque trementem, Verg. A. 2, 175; 11, 693; Mart. 9, 21, 10.—
B A gladiator armed with a parma, a Threx (v. Threx) (poet.), Mart. 9, 69, 8.—
C The valve in a pair of bellows , Aus. Idyll. 10, 267.