pons, ntis, m. [kindred with Sanscr. pathi, a path; Gr. πάτος; old Germ. phat, pfat; mod. Germ. Pfad; Angl.-Sax. padh; hence prop. a board across a ditch, brook, etc.], a bridge across a river, ditch, or marsh, between towers, etc.
I In gen.: pars oppidi mari disjuncta angusto, ponte rursus adjungitur et continetur, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 52, § 117: pontem in Arare faciendum curat, to throw a bridge over the stream , Caes. B. G. 1, 13: in Isarā, flumine maximo, ponte uno die facto, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 15, 3: in Histro flumine, Nep. Milt. 3, 1; so, inicere pontem, Liv. 26, 6; Tac. A. 15, 19: flumen ponte jungere, Liv. 21, 45; Curt. 3, 7, 1: amnem ponte junxit, id. 4, 9, 9: imponere pontem flumini, id. 5, 1, 22: pontibus palude constratā, Hirt. B. G. 8, 14: pontem navibus efficere, Tac. A. 6, 37: ponte flumen transgredi, id. ib. 13, 39; also: ponte flumen transmittere, Plin. Ep. 8, 8; and: ponte flumen traicere, Flor. 4, 12, 22: interscindere pontem, to break down , Cic. Leg. 2, 4, 10; also, rescindere, Nep. Milt. 3, 4: interrumpere, Plaut. Cas. prol. 66; Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 3: rumpere, Quint. 2, 13, 16; Tac. A. 2, 68: abrumpere, id. H. 3, 6: recidere, Curt. 4, 16, 8: solvere, Tac. A. 1, 69: dissolvere, Nep. Them. 5, 1: vellere, Verg. A. 8, 650: partem pontis rescindere, Caes. B. G. 6, 29.—Esp., as a stand for beggars, Juv. 5, 8; cf. id. 4, 116: aliquis de ponte, i. e. a beggar , id. 14, 134.— Plur. : plures dies efficiendis pontibus absumpti, a bridge of several spans , Tac. A. 2, 8; 11, 13; Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 3; cf. id. ib. 10, 18, 4.—
II In partic.
A The bridge at the Comitia , over which the voters passed one by one to the septum, to deposit their votes , Cic. Att. 1, 14, 5; Auct. Her. 1, 12, 21; Ov. F. 5, 634. Hence the proverb: sexagenarios de ponte; v. sexagenarius.—
B A wooden drawbridge , to be let down from besieging towers to the walls of a town or fortress , Tac. A. 4, 51; Suet. Aug. 20.—
C A plank bridge thrown from a vessel to the shore , Verg. A. 10, 288 and 654; Liv. 21, 28.—
D The deck of a ship on which the military engines were placed , Tac. A. 2, 6.—
E A floor of a tower , Verg. A. 9, 530; 12, 675.—
F A wooden bridge on a narrow wall between two towers , Verg. A. 9, 170.