plŭtĕus, i, m., less freq. plŭtĕum, i, n.
I A penthouse , shed , or mantlet , made of hurdles covered with raw hides, and used to protect besiegers (cf. vineae): plutei crates corio crudo intentae, quae solebant opponi militibus opus facientibus, et appellabantur militares. Nunc etiam tabulae, quibus quid praesepitur, eodem nomine dicuntur, Paul. ex Fest. p. 231 Müll.; cf. Veg. Mil. 4, 15: pluteos praeferre, Amm. 21, 12, 6; so Caes. B. C. 2, 9; Liv. 21, 61, 10 al.—Transf.: ad aliquem vineam pluteosque agere, i. e. to turn all one's weapons against him , Plaut. Mil. 2, 2, 111.—
II A permanent breastwork , a parapet , on towers, etc.: pluteos vallo addere, Caes. B. G. 7, 41: plutei turrium, id. ib. 7, 25; id. B. C. 3, 24: rates a fronte atque ab utroque latere, cratibus ac pluteis protegebat, id. ib. 1, 25, 9; 2, 15, 3: viminei, Amm. 19, 5, 1: locus consaeptus cratibus pluteisque, Liv. 10, 38, 5.—
III The back-board , back , of a settee or couch, Suet. Calig. 26; so of the couch on which guests reclined at table: somni post vina petuntur, ... puer pluteo vindice tutus erat, Mart. 3, 91, 10.—
2 Meton., a couch , dining-couch , Prop. 4 (5), 8, 68.—
IV The board on which a corpse is placed , Mart. 8, 44, 13.—
V A book-shelf , bookcase , desk , Pers. 1, 106; with busts upon it, Juv. 2, 7; cf. Dig. 29, 1, 17, § 4; Sid. Ep. 2, 9.—
VI A partition-wall between two columns , a balustrade , parapet , Vitr. 4, 4, 1.