Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Vallus

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. 

VALLUS (χάραξ). A single stake with short-pointed branches left on its stock, employed as a prop; but more especially for forming the vallum, or chevaux de frize, upon the mound of a camp, several of which, ready prepared, were carried by every Roman soldier in the field. Cic. Tusc. ii. 17. Liv. lvii. Epit.

2. Same as VALLUM. Caes. B. C. iii. 63.

3. A large wooden fork in the shape of the letter V, set with teeth, and attached to the front of a truck (vehiculum), which was employed as a reaping-machine by the people of Gaul. It was driven into the standing corn by a single ox, harnessed to a pair of shafts (amites) at the back, so that it nicked off the ears between the forks, and collected them in the truck as it advanced. Plin. H. N. xviii. 72. Compare Pallad. vii. 2. 2.

4. The tooth of a comb. Ov. Am. i. 14, 15. PECTEN.

5. (λικνάριον). In the feminine gender, diminutive of VANNUS; a small winnowing-basket. Varro, R. R. i. 23. 5. Ib. 52. 2.