عصب

عَصَبٌ ذ [The sinews, or tendons; though the following explanation seems rather to denote the ligaments; ] the أَطْنَاب of the joints, (S, O, Msb, K, TA,) which connect and bind together the structure thereof, in man and in others, such as the ox-kind, and sheep or goats, and gazelles, and ostriches; so says AHn; (TA;) i. q. عَقَبٌ: (S and K &c. in art. عقب:) or such as are yellow of the اطناب (Mgh, Msb) of the joints; the عَقَب being the white: (Mgh:) [it is also used as meaning ligaments: (see an ex. of its n. un. in an explanation of الصَّدَفَتَانِ, voce صَدَفٌ:) and sometimes it means nerves: (see a usage of its pl. voce صَرْعٌ:) it is a coll. gen. n.:] the n. un. is with ة: (S, O, TA:) and the pl. is أَعْصَابٌ. (S, Mgh, O, Msb.) ― -b2- And (assumed tropical:) The best (in a pl. sense) of a people or party. (K.) ― -b3- See also عُصْبٌ.