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Pilus vs Pilum - What's the difference?

pilus | pilum |

Pilum is a synonym of pilus.



As nouns the difference between pilus and pilum

is that pilus is a hair while pilum is a Roman military javelin.

pilus

English

Noun

(pili)
  • A hair.
  • (microbiology) A hairlike appendage found on the cell surface of many bacteria.
  • Synonyms

    * (hairlike appendage) fimbria

    See also

    * flagellum * (wikipedia "pilus")

    Anagrams

    * ----

    pilum

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A Roman military javelin.
  • * 1776' Besides a lighter spear, the Roman legionary grasped in his right hand the formidable '''pilum , a ponderous javelin whose utmost length was about six feet and which was terminated by a massy triangular point of steel of about eighteen inches. This instrument was indeed much inferior to our modern fire-arms; since it was exhausted by a single discharge at the distance of only ten or twelve paces. Yet when it was launched by a skilled and firm hand, there was not any cavalry that durst venture within its reach, or any shield or corslet that could withstand the impetuosity of its weight. : ''The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire : Edward Gibbon. This edition Penguin 2000. p. 21