σπεῖρα
Alt. σπεῖρα, ἡ,
I. Lat. spira, anything wound or "coiled": in pl. "the coils or spires" of a serpent, Eur.; also σπείραις δικτυοκλώστοις with the net's meshy "folds", Soph.
2. σπεῖραι βόειαι "thongs or straps" of ox-hide "bound round" a boxer's fist, the "caestus", Theocr.
II. "a body of men-at-arms", the Roman "manipulus, =" two centuries, Polyb.:—also "a cohort", NTest.