πλίνθος

A. brick, whether sun- or fire-baked, πλίνθοι ὀπταί Hdt. 1.180, 186, Ar. Av. 552, X. An. 2.4.12, cf. Alc. 153, PAmh. 2.99(a)9 (ii A. D.), etc.; π. κεραμεαῖ, γήϊναι, X. An. 3.4.7, 7.8.14 (opp. ὠμὴ π. Paus. 8.8.7); πλίνθους ἑλκύσαι, εἰρύσαι, make bricks, Hdt. 1.179, 2.136; ὀπτᾶν bake them, Id. 1.179; δόμοι πλίνθου (in collect. sense) layers of brick, ibid., cf. Th. 3.20 (pl.); πλίνθους ἐπιτιθέναι, of torture by pressing, Ar. Ra. 621: prov., π. πλύνειν, of useless trouble, Com.Adesp. 891, Zen. 6.48; ὕδατι νίζειν θολερὰν διαειδέϊ π. Theoc. 16.62.

II. any brick-shaped body,

1. stone squared for building, IG 12.372.10, al.: pl. πλίνθα squared blocks of marble, Sardis 7(1) No.93.3.

2. ingot of gold or silver, Plb. 10.27.12, Luc. Cont. 12; of lead, Dsc. 5.88; metal plate let into a threshold, SIG 247i22 (Delph., iv B.C.), IG 42(1).102.73 (Epid., iv B.C.).

3. plinth of a column, Milet. 7.59, Supp.Epigr. 4.447.17 (Didyma, ii B.C.), Vitr. 4.7.3.