Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Orbiculus

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. 

ORBIC'ULUS. A roller or pulley revolving upon an axis, and having a groove in its circumference for the rope to fit into; employed as a mechanical power (Orbiculus/1.1) for raising or drawing weights in the same manner as still practised. Cato, R. R. iii. 6. Vitruv. x. 2. passim.

2. A small roller placed at each end of an axle or cylinder, to make it revolve when drawn over the ground; applied specially to the revolver of the dentated cylinder used for threshing out corn in the machina called PLOSTELLUM PUNICUM. Varro, R. R. i. 52. 1.

3. A weight made in a flat circular form, like the pulley, such as still used in our shops; a set being made of different sizes, to fit one another, of which a specimen is engraved by Caylus (vii. 31. 1.), from originals. Columell. iv. 30. 4.; but the passage is very obscure.

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  Orbiculus/1.1