Lewis Short
lanx (noun F) : cf. λέκος, λεκάνη
* A plate, platter, charger, dish (class.; cf.: patina, patella, magis, scutula).
* In gen.: in lancibus,Plaut. Curc. 2, 3, 45: in filicatis lancibus,Cic. Att. 6, 1, 13: pomum de caelata sumere lance,Ov. P. 3, 5, 20: cumulantque oneratis lancibus aras,Verg. A. 8, 284: inter lances mensasque nitentes,Hor. S. 2, 2, 4: rotundae lances,id. ib. 2, 4, 41: qui furtum quaerere velit, nudus quaerat, linteo cinctus, lancem habens, etc.,Gai. Inst. 3, 192 sqq.; cf. Paul. ex Fest. p. 116 Müll.; Gell. 11, 18, 9; 16, 10, 8: sic implet leves scutulas, cavasque lances,Mart. 11, 32, 18; Paul. Sent. 3, 6, 86: squilla distendat pectore lancem,Juv. 5, 80.
* In partic., the scale of a balance (cf.: libra, statera, trutina): necesse est lancem in libra ponderibus impositis deprimi,Cic. Ac. 2, 12, 38: Critolaus cum in alteram lancem animi bona imponat, in alteram corporis et externa, etc.,id. Tusc. 5, 17, 51; cf. id. Fin. 5, 30, 91; cf.: Juppiter ipse duas aequato examine lances Sustinet,Verg. A. 12, 725: cum in altera lance Claudius et Nero starent, in altera, etc.,Suet. Vesp. 25.
* Trop.: vitam aequa lance pensitare, to weigh or consider impartially, Plin. 7, 7, 5, § 44: aequa lance examinare,Ambros. Ep. 41, 22: paripendere lance cunctos,Arn. 6, 2: aequa lance servari,i. e. in like manner,Dig. 42, 1, 20.
Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary