Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Regula

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. 

RE'GULA (κανῶν). A straight rule, used by carpenters, masons, artificers, and people in general, for drawing lines, or taking measurements (Vitruv. v. 3. Cic. ap. Non. s. Perpendiculum, p. 162.). The example (Regula/1.1) represents an original bronze rule, found in a mason's shop at Pompeii, which is divided into graduated parts, and made to shut up in half, by means of a hinge, similar to those now in use; but is moreover furnished with a stay at the back, indented by two notches, which slip under the heads of two small pins, and thus prevents the two halves from closing or yielding from the straight line whilst in use.

2. In a more general sense any long straight lath, or thin bar of wood or metal, for whatever purpose applied; and specially in the plural, the laths, within which the pulp of olives (samsa), or the husks of grapes (pes vinaceorum) were included, when placed under the press beam (prelum) to keep the entire mass under the action of the beam, and prevent the sides from bulging out beyond the centre where the force was pressed. Columell. xii. 52. 10. See the illustration s. TORCULAR, 1. which exhibits a basket (fiscina) employed, as was frequently the case (Id. xii. 39. 3.), instead of laths, for the same purpose.

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  Regula/1.1