σπόγγος

A. sponge, ς. πολυτρήτοσι τραπέζας vίζον Od. 1.111, cf. 22.439; σπόγγῳ ἀμφὶ πρόσωπα καὶ ἄμφω χεῖρ’ ἀπομόργνυ Il. 18.414; ὑγρώσσων ς. ὤλεσεν γραφήν A. Ag. 1329; used at the bath, Ar. Fr. 55, Crates Com. 15.7; for cleaning shoes. Ar. V. 600 (cf. σπογγίζω); cf. Arist. HA 487b9, 588b20, Ev.Matt. 27.48, etc.

II. any spongy substance, σικυώνης ς. Hp. Steril. 221; οἱ ς. the glands in the throat, tonsils, from their spongy nature and liability to swell, Id. Epid. 4.7, Gal. 19.140.

III. = νήριον, Ps.-Dsc. 4.81. (σφόγγος is found in IG 11 (2). 144 A 37 (Delos, iv B.C.), PSI 6.558.7 (iii B.C.), POxy. 1384.25 (V A.D.); cf. σπογγιά, σπογγίον.)