σφόνδυλος

A. vertebra, Ar. V. 1489(anap.), Pl. Ti. 74a; σύγκειται ἡ ῥάχις ἐκ σφονδύλων Arist. HA 516a11, cf. PA 651b34; esp. one of the cervical vertebrae, Hp. Aph. 3.26, cf. Arist. PA 686a21, 692a3: pl., backbone, spine, E. Ph. 1413 (so in sg., Pherecr. 23); or neck, E. El. 841 (so in sg., LXX Le. 5.8).

b. generally, joint, esp. in the scorpion's tail, Nic. Th. 798 (where it is fem.), 781, Hipparch. 3.4.2.

c. prickly ridge on the head of the κεστρεύς, Dorio ap.Ath. 7.306f.

d. a kind of mussel or oyster, Sor. 1.51, Gal. 6.734; ς. θαλάσσιοι Edict.Diocl. 5.10; Lat.spondylus, Plin. HN 32.60,154.

II. from resemblance to vertebrae,

1. one of the tambours in a column, Callix. 1 (σπ‐), Milet. 7.59, al. (Didyma), IG 22.1668.43, 1672.310; not necessarily round, ib.11 (2). 161 A 70 (Delos, iii B.C.); ς. μεγάλοι perh. drums of columns used as missiles, Ath.Mech. 37.7.

2. circular whorl which balances and twirls a spindle, Pl. R. 616c sq., Thphr. HP 3.16.4, Plu. 2.745f, Sor. 1.110, Poll. 7.31, Edict.Diocl. 13.5; σπόνδυλος Poll. 10.125 (v.l. σφ‐), Them. Or. 32.356c.

b. the shape of that part of the terrestrial sphere which lies between the Equator and the Arctic Circle, Str. 2.5.6.

c. voting pebble, Poll. 8.17 (v.l. σπ‐), Hsch., Eust. 1669.62.

3. head of a kind of artichoke (κινάρα), Gal. 6.637, Gp. 18.19.2, Edict.Diocl. 6.2.

4. roller for closing or opening a trap-door, σπονδύλου προϋποτιθεμένου Aen. Tact.36.2.