Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Silex

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. 

SIL'EX. Generally a common flint or flint-stone; but in a more special sense a large hard stone of volcanic formation, cut by the mason into polygonal blocks, and then dovetailed accurately together, which was extensively used in the construction of walls (Vitruv. i. 5. 8.), and for the paving of streets and roads (Liv. xli. 27. xxxviii. 28.); in the manner shown by the annexed example (Silex/1.1) from a piece of Roman pavement near Rome. It is thus frequently opposed to lapis, a square flag-stone, and to saxum, also used in polygonal masses, and likewise of a volcanic formation, but possessing properties which geologists call tufa, instead of a flinty substance.

• 
  Silex/1.1