صرف

صَيْرَفِىٌّ ذ i. q. ↓ صَرَّافٌ, (S, M, O, Msb,) or صَرَّافُ دَرَاهِمَ, (K,) and so ↓ صَيْرَفٌ, (M, Msb, K,) i. e. A money-changer; (M, Msb, TA;) except that صَرَّافٌ has an intensive signification [app. as meaning a skilful money-changer, and hence it is often used in the present day as meaning a banker ]: (Msb:) all are applied to him who knows and distinguishes the relative excellence, or superiority, of pieces of money: (Mgh:) these appellations are from المُصَارَفَةُ, (S, O,) or from التَّصَرُّفُ, (M,) or from صَرْفٌ meaning “ excellence, ” or “ superiority, ” of one dirhem [or deenár] over another, (Mgh, and Msb on the authority of IF in relation to the first,) because such as excels, or is superior, is turned aside from the deficient: (Mgh:) the pl. is صَيَارِفَةٌ (S, M, O, K) and صَيَارِفُ (M) and صَيَارِيفُ, this last occurring in poetry, (S, M, O, K,) by poetic license, for the sake of the measure. (S, O.) ― -b2- See also صَيْرَفٌ.