SCALE Copy link • SCALE 1. s. Of a balance, lanx: scales, trutina (τρυτάνη: PROP. the hole in which the tongue of the balance plays; then general term for balance: trutinae, quae staterae dicuntur, Vitr., 10, 3, 8, 4): libra (a pair of scales): statera (mostly steelyard; seldom pair of scales): to weigh in a scale, pendere; trutinā examinare (Cic., De Or., 2, 38, 159). Not to weigh in too nice a scale, non aurificis statera, sed populari trutinā examinare: to hold the scale even, binas lances aequato examine sustinere (Verg., PROP.); aequabilem juris rationem tenere (Cic., figuratively). The scale turns [Vid: TURN]. A thin lamina, squama (as, of a fish): covered with scales, squamis obductus or intectus; squamosus: to take off scales from fish, pisces desquamare. 2. v. Transitively, To strip off scales, desquamare (general term); or desquamare pisces (fishes). To pare the surface from, summum corticem desquamare (of the bark of a tree); also, decorticare arborem, or corticem arbori in orbem detrahere (all round). To climb as by ladders [Vid: to CLIMB]. to scale the wall, scalas moenibus applicare or admovere (to put the scaling-ladders to the wall): scalis muros adoriri (to attack it): scalas erigi jubere (to order the scaling-ladders to be used): murum or in murum ascendere: in murum (muros), in moenia evadere (of the enemy, but also of the inhabitants of a town): impetu facto urbem scalis capere (to take by scaling): to endeavor to scale ascensum urbis scalis tentare. Intransitively, To pare off, desquamari (of bodies covered with scales): squamulae ex cute decedunt or a cute resolvuntur; squamae a cute recedunt or ex cute secedunt (relating to the skin); also, *furfures cutis abscedunt.