عقل

مَعْقِلٌ ذ A place to which one betakes himself for refuge, protection, preservation, covert, or lodging; syn. مَلْجَأٌ; (S, Mgh, O, Msb, K;) as also ↓ عَقْلٌ, (S, O, K,) of which the pl. is عُقُولٌ: (S, O:) but Az says that he had not heard عَقْل in this sense on any authority except that of Lth; and held العُقُولُ, which is cited as an ex. of its pl., to signify “ the protecting oneself in a mountain: ” (TA:) and مَعْقِلٌ signifies also a fortress; [like as عَقْلٌ is said to do;] syn. حِصْنٌ: (Mgh:) the pl. is مَعَاقِلُ. (TA.) Hence one says, using it metaphorically, هُوَ مَعْقِلُ قَوْمِهِ (tropical:) He is the refuge of his people: and the kings of Himyer are termed in a trad. مَعَاقِلُ الأَرْضِ, meaning The fortresses [or refuges ] of the land. (TA.) ― -b2- [It is perhaps primarily used in relation to camels; for] مَعَاقِلُ الاـِبِلِ means The places in which the camels are bound with the rope called عِقَال. (TA.)