ărista
ae, f.
perh. for acrista and akin to ācer, q. v., or perh. to aro, q. v.; cf. Germ. Aehre; Engl. ear (of corn); Germ. Ernte, harvest; Engl. earnest, fruit, pledge
I.
The awn or beard of grain: arista, quae ut acus tenuis longa eminete glumā; proinde ut granitheca sit gluma, et apex arista, Varr. R. R. 1, 48; * Cic. Sen. 15, 51; Ov. H. 5, 111; id. Tr. 4, 1, 57.—
II.
Meton. (pars pro toto).
A.
The ear itself: maturae aristae, Ov. F. 5, 357: pinguis arista, Verg. G. 1, 8; 1, 111; id. A. 7, 720.—Also, an ear of spikenard, Ov. M. 15, 398.—Hence,
2.
Poet., summer: Post aliquot, mea regna videns, mirabor aristas, Verg. E. 1, 70: necdum decimas emensus aristas Aggrederis metuenda viris, Claud. IV. Cons. Hon. 371 (cf. at the next grass, for next summer, an expression still common in the north of England; so, seven years old at the next grass, Sylvester's Dubartas; just fifteen, coming summer's grass, Swift).—
B.
Poet. transf.,
1.
Of the hair of men, Pers. 3, 115. —
2.
Of the bones of fishes, Aus. Mos. 85; 119.—
3.
Of plants in gen., Val. Fl. 6, 365.