spongĭa or spongĕa, ae, f., = σπογγιά.
I Lit., a sponge , Plin. 9, 45, 69, § 148; 31, 11, 47, § 123; Lucr. 4, 618; Cic. N. D. 2, 55, 136; id. Sest. 35, 77; Varr. ap. Non. 96, 14; Mart. 12, 48, 7; 14, 144, 1; Sen. Ep. 70, 20; id. Ira, 3, 19, 3; Suet. Vesp. 16. —
II Transf., of things resembling a sponge.
A An open-worked coat of mail , Liv. 9, 40, 3: retiariorum, Tert. Spect. 25. —In a double sense, with the signif. I.: Ajax in spongeam incubuit, Aug. ap. Macr. S. 2, 4; cf. Suet. Aug. 85.—
B The root of some plants; of asparagus, Col. 11, 3, 43; Plin. 19, 8, 42, § 146; Pall. Febr. 24, 8; id. Mart. 9, 11; of mint, Plin. 19, 8, 47, § 159.—
C A kind of porous stone , pumice-stone , Vitr. 2, 6; Pall. 1, 10, 3.—
D A kind of moss , Plin. 19, 4, 22, § 63.—
E Fragments of iron melted , Plin. 34, 14, 41, § 146.