حف

حَفَفٌ حفف The verge of an event, or affair. (K, * TA.) You say, هُوَ عَلَى حَفَفِ أَمْرٍ He is on the verge of an event, or affair. (TA.) ― -b2- See also حَفٌّ, in two places. ― -b3- Also, (As, S, K,) and ↓ حُفُوفٌ, (K,) (tropical:) An evil state, or condition, of life; and paucity of property; (As, S, K, TA;) as though one were placed aloof (فى حَفَفٍ, i. e. جَانِبٍ,) from the means of subsistence: (Er-Rá- ghib, TA:) or the former signifies straitness of the means of subsistence; (IDrd, TA;) and so ↓ latter: (TA:) or the former, a [ bare ] sufficiency of the means of subsistence: (Lh, TA:) or a state in which the family, or household, is proportionate to the provisions: (Th, TA:) it is coupled with ضَعَفٌ: and is said to signify straitness; the latter signifying “ paucity of food with numerousness of the eaters thereof; ” or, as some say, “ food proportionate to the household: ” (TA:) or the former signifies a state in which the eaters are proportionate to the property; and the latter, “ a state in which the eaters are more than proportionate to the property: ” (Abu-l-'Abbás, TA:) or the former, want; and the latter, “ paucity [of property]: ” (IAar, TA:) or both signify the same. (TA.) One says, مَا رُئِىَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفَفٌ وَلَا ضَفَفٌ There was not seen upon them a trace of want. (S.) And أَصَابَهُمْ مِنَ العَيْشِ حَفَفٌ and ضَفَفٌ and قَشَفٌ, Straitness of the means of subsistence befell them. (As, TA.) And مَا عِنْدَ فُلَانِ اـِلَّا حَفَفٌ مِنَ المَتَاعِ There is not with such a one aught save a scanty supply of the necessaries of life. (TA.) And مِنْ مَالٍ ↓ هٰذِهِ حَفَّةٌ or مَتَاعٍ, This is a scanty supply of the necessaries of life, not exceeding the wants of its people, or owners. (TA.)