صدع

صَدَعٌ ذ and ↓ صَدْعٌ, (K,) or the former only, (S,) applied to a mountain-goat, and a gazelle, and an ass, [app. a wild ass,] (S, K,) and a camel, (K,) Of a middling size, neither great nor small, but between the two: (S:) or youthful and strong: [see also صَدِيعٌ:] or [in the CK “ and ”] the former word signifies a thing of any sort between two things; between tall and short, and youthful and advanced in age, and fat and lean, and great and small. (K.) ― -b2- For the former word as applied to a man: see صَدْعٌ. ― -b3- Also, thus applied Penetrating, sharp, or effective, in his affair. (TA.) -A2- [It is said that] صَدَعٌ signifies also The صَدَأ [i. e. rust ] of iron. (K.) [But this seems to be a mistake, which has arisen from what here follows.] It is said that [a certain person called] El-Uskuff [which generally means “ the bishop ”], being asked by 'Omar respecting the Khaleefehs, designated [him who was afterwards] the fourth of them ['Alee] as صَدَعٌ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ, meaning [lit.] thereby A mountain-goat of iron; using it as a hyperbolical appellation to denote his might and courage and endurance and hardness: or the phrase, as some relate it, is صَدَأٌ حَديدٌ [which may be rendered, “ light or active in body ” (a meaning assigned to صَدَأٌ and صَدَعٌ, the latter of which is said to be in this sense the original), and “ sharp ”]; or صَدَأُ حَدِيدٍ [i. e. “ rust of iron, ” app. alluding to his frequent and long-continued wearing of mail and bearing of weapons]; which last is thought by As to be most probably correct. (O, * TA.)