Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Plostellum

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. 

PLOSTEL'LUM (ἁμαξίς). Diminutive of PLAUSTRUM; consequently applicable to any cart of the construction explained under that word, but of less than the usual size, like the annexed example (Plostellum/1.1), from an engraved gem, which is fitted for the draught of goats instead of oxen (Augustin. C. D. vii. 21. Hor. Sat. ii. 3. 247., in which passage the diminutive is applied to a toy with mice harnessed to it).

2. Plostellum punicum. A threshing machine, or sort of sledge cart invented by the Carthaginians, and from them adopted into Italy and other countries. It consisted of a wooden frame, like a sledge, into which a certain number of rollers, set round with projecting teeth, were fitted; these threshed out the corn as they turned round when drawn over the floor by the cattle attached to the machine, which was further weighted by the driver, who sat in a sort of frame or chair placed on it. (Varro, R. R. i. 51. 2.) The preceding account from Varro describes so exactly a contrivance still used in Egypt for the same purpose, called the "Noreg," and represented in the annexed illustration (Plostellum/2.1), as to leave no doubt respecting the identity of the original one.

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  Plostellum/1.1
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  Plostellum/2.1