Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Canterius

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CANTE'RIUS. A gelding. Varro, R. R. ii. 7. 15. Festus, s. v.

2. A prop for vines. Columell. iv. 12. 1.

3. A machine used for suspending horses with broken legs, to keep their feet off the ground while the bone is setting. Veget. Vet. iii. 47. 2.

4. In architecture, CANTERII (ἀμείβοντες, συστάται) are the canthers or principal rafters in the timber work of a roof (see MATERIATIO, f.f.); their upper ends meet together, and form the apex of the pediment; their lower extremities rest upon the tie-beams (tigna); and in the finished building are represented externally by mutules (mutuli), which are, therefore, carved to represent the projecting extremities of a series of rafters. Vitruv. iv. 2. 1. and 3.