ضنك

ضَنْكٌ ذ an inf. n. of ضَنُكَ: (O, K:) its primary signification is Narrowness, or straitness, and hardship. (Aboo-Is-hák, TA.) ― -b2- And Narrow, or strait; syn. ضَيِّقٌ; (S, M, O, K; [in the CK, and in a copy of the S, ضِيق, which is also a correct explanation, as shown above; but not what is here meant, as appears from what follows;]) applied to anything, (M, K,) masc. and fem., (M, K, and Bd in xx. 123,) being an inf. n. used as an epithet. (Bd ibid.) [Like the Pers. تَنْG.] One says مَكَانٌ ضَنْكٌ A narrow, or strait, place. (IDrd, O, TA.) And عَيْشٌ ضَنْكٌ A strait life; or strait sustenance, or means of subsistence; (IDrd, O, TA;) as also ↓ عَيْشٌ ضَنِيكٌ: (AA, O, K, TA:) and thus مَعِيشَةً ضَنْكًا in the Kur xx. 123; where some read ↓ ضَنْكَى, like سَكْرَى: (Bd:) or this means such as is unlawful; (O, TA;) every life that is unlawful being termed ضَنْكٌ, accord. to Lth, even though it be ample: (O, TA: *) Aboo-Is-hák thinks it to mean [ subsistence ] in the fire of Hell: but says that most explain this phrase in the Kur as meaning the punishment of the grave: (TA:) thus it means accord. to Ibn-Mes'ood: (O:) or, accord. to Katádeh, Hell: (O, TA:) or, accord. to Ed-Dahhák, forbidden gain: (TA:) or, as some say, الضَّرِيعُ [q. v.], and الزَّكُّومُ [q. v.]. (Bd.)