Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Neurospaston

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. 

NEUROSPAS'TON (νευρόσπαστον). A puppet, or marionette (Aul. Gell. xiv. 1. 9.), having the different limbs attached by wires, so that they could be put in motion imperceptibly by a thread (Hor. Sat. ii. 7. 82.), as is still a common practice. These dancing dolls (which were common amongst the Greeks) were usually exhibited at their shows, and appear to have been brought to great perfection; for Aristotle (de Mund. cap. 6.), paraphrased by Apuleius (de Mund. p. 741.) speaks of some which moved their limbs, hands, head, and eyes in a very natural manner.