Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Spinther

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. 

SPIN'THER (σφιγκτήρ). A particular kind of bracelet, worn by females on the left arm (Festus, s. v.); made of gold (Plaut. Men. iii. 3. 7.), and without any clasp; but retaining its place on the arm of the wearer by the natural elasticity of its own pressure. From this peculiarity the name arose, in allusion to the action of the sphincter muscle, which naturally remains in a state of contraction. The illustration (Spinther/1.1) is from an original of gold, which possesses all the elastic property described.

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  Spinther/1.1