Lewis & Short

imbrex, ĭcis, f. (less freq. m., Plin. 17, 14, 24, § 114; Arn. 3, 107) [imber], a hollow tile, gutter-tile, pantile (used in roofs for the purpose of leading off the rain; cf.: tegula, operculum, tectorium).

  1. I. Lit.: tegulae vocatae, quod tegant aedes; et imbrices quod accipiant imbres, Isid. Orig. 19, 10: meas confregisti imbrices et tegulas, Plaut. Mil. 2, 6, 24; id. Most. 1, 2, 28; Sisenn. ap. Non. 125, 18; Plin. 36, 22, 44, § 159; Verg. G. 4, 296.
  2. II. Transf., of things shaped like a pantile.
    1. A. A gutter, a trough for watering beasts, Col. 9, 13, 6; 2, 2, 9; Plin. 17, 14, 24, § 114; Cato, R. R. 21, 3.
    2. B. A certain part of a hog (either the ear, sparerib, or womb), Mart. 2, 37, 2.
    3. C. Imbrex narium, the partition (saeptum) in the nose, Arn. 3, 107.
    4. D. A mode of applauding with the hands formed into hollows, invented by Nero, Suet. Ner. 20.