Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Follis

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

FOLLIS. A ball inflated with air, and of large dimensions, which, from its lightness, was peculiarly adapted for the amusement of very young or old people, as affording exercise without violent exertion. (Mart. xiv. 47.) The annexed illustration (Follis/1.1) is from the device on a coin of Gordian iii., as published by Mercuriali (Gymn. p. 126.); and resembles, both in the size of the inflated bladder, and the manner in which it is employed, an amusement still common in Italy, known as the game of the big ball (il giuco del pallone), at which the players have their right arms, from the elbow to the wrist, covered with a guard like that exhibited in the engraving; with this they strike the ball, which another person delivers to them, as the bowler does at cricket.

2. A cushion or mattress inflated with air, instead of stuffed with feathers, which latter was considered more luxurious. Lamprid. Elag. 25.

3. A large leather bag for holding money (Juv. xiv. 281.); especially used in the army as a military chest for keeping the soldiers’ pay. Veg. Mil. ii. 20.

4. (φύσα). A pair of bellows; consisting of two boards, with an air-valve (parma), united by a skin of ox or cow hide, so as to form a machine similar to what we now use, as shown by the annexed figure (Follis/4.1), from a terra-cotta lamp, in the collection of Licetus (Lucern., vi. 24. 2.), Cic. N. D. i. 20. Pers. v. 11. Bellows, also made of goat's skin (folles hircini), are mentioned by Horace (Sat. i. 4. 19.); and of bull's hide (folles taurini) by Virgil (Georg. iv. 171.); but this latter is only to be taken as a poetical expression, or was written in ignorance of a well known fact, that bull’s leather is unfit for making bellows. Beckman, Hist. of Inventions, vol. 1. p. 64. London, 1846.

5. Follis fabrilis. A blacksmith’s bellows (Liv. xxxviii. 7.) of large dimensions, such as employed in our forges; of which an instance is afforded by the engraving s. FERRARIUS.

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  Follis/1.1
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  Follis/4.1