līcium

I. the thrum or leash, the ends of a web to which those of the new piece are fastened.

I. Lit.: licia telae Addere, i. e. to weave, Verg. G. 1, 285: adnectit licia telis, Tib. 1, 6, 79: plurimis liciis texere, quae polymita appellant, Alexandria instituit, Plin. 8, 48, 74, § 196.—

II. Transf.

A. A thread of the web: per licia texta querelas Edidit et tacitis mandavit crimina telis, Aus. Ep. 23, 14.—

B. A thread of any thing woven: licia dependent longas velantia sepes, Ov. F. 3, 267: cinerem fici cum aluta inligatum licio e collo suspendere, Plin. 23, 7, 63, § 125.—Often used in charms and spells: tum cantata ligat cum fusco licia rhombo, Ov. F. 2, 575: terna tibi haec primum triplici diversa colore Licia circumdo, Verg. E. 8, 73; Plin. 28, 4, 12, § 48.—As an ornament for the head, worn by women: licia crinibus addunt, Prud. ap. Symm. 2, 1104.—

C. A small girdle or belt around the abdomen; so in the law phrase: per lancem et licium furta concipere, i. e. to search in a house for stolen property; this was done per licium, with which the person making the search was covered, and per lancem, which he held before his face, in order not to be recognized by the women. This lanx was perforated. He was clothed with a licium instead of his usual garments, that he might not be suspected of having brought in his clothes that which he might find and recognize as stolen property, Gell. 11, 18, 9; 16, 10; v. lanx.