fūnis, is, m. (fem., Lucr. 2, 1154; ap. Gell. 13, 20, 21, and Non. 205, 22; cf. Quint. 1, 6, 6) [perh. for fudnis, root in Sanscr. bandh-, bind; cf. Gr. πεῖσμα, rope; kindr. with σχοῖνος], a rope, sheet, line, cord (syn.: restis, rudens): funes dicti, quod antea in usum luminis circumdati cera, unde et funalia, Isid. Orig. 19, 4; Cato, R. R. 135, 4; Varr. R. R. 1, 22; Caes. B. G. 3, 13, 5; 3, 14, 6; 4, 29, 3 al.; Plin. 16, 1, 1, § 4; Verg. A. 2, 262; Ov. M. 8, 777 et saep.: patiatur necesse est illam per funes ingredientium tarditatem, i. e. of the rope-dancers, Quint. 2, 14, 16.— Prov. Funem ducere or sequi, to lead or follow the rope, i. e. to command or serve (the fig. being most probably that of an animal led by a rope): imperat aut servit collecta pecunia cuique, Tortum digna sequi potius quam ducere funem, Hor. Ep. 1, 10, 48.— Funem reducere, to pull back the rope, i. e. to change one's mind, Pers. 5, 118.— Funem in diversa distendere, to dispute pro and con, Tert. Pudic. 2; adv. Marc. 4.— Ut, quod aiunt Graeci, ex incomprehensibili parvitate arenae funise effici non possit (Gr. ἐξἄμμου σχοινίον πλέκειν), to make a rope of sand, i. e. to perform the impossible, Col. 10 praef. § 4 fin.