صفن

صَافِنٌ ذ A horse standing upon three legs and the extremity of the hoof of the fourth leg: (A'Obeyd, * S, TA:) or standing upon three legs, and turning back the extremity of the fore part of the fourth hoof, that of his fore leg: (M, TA:) or standing upon three legs, and otherwise: thus, says Fr, I have found the Arabs use the word: (TA: [see 1, first sentence:]) pl. صُفُونٌ (M, TA) and صَوَافِنُ and [the pl. of صَافِنَةٌ is] صَافِنَاتٌ. (TA.) صَافِنَاتٌ occurs in the Kur xxxviii. 30. (M, TA.) And in the same, xxii. 37, I'Ab and Ibn-Mes-'ood used to read صَوَافِنَ [instead of صَوَافَّ]; the former explaining it as meaning Having the shank of one fore leg tied up to the arm; for thus is done with the camel when he is slaughtered: the latter, as meaning standing, or standing still. (TA.) ― -b2- And applied to a man, it means صَافٌّ قَدَمَيْهِ [ setting his feet evenly, side by side ], (A'Obeyd, M, TA, and the like is said in the S and Msb,) standing. (A'Obeyd, Msb, TA.) It is said in a trad., (S, M, Msb, TA,) referring to the Prophet mentioned as praying, (S, M,) قُمْنَا خَلْفَهُ صُفُونًا [app. meaning We stood behind him setting our feet evenly, side by side; for so the context seems to indicate]. (S, M, Msb, K.) [But] in another trad., صَلٰوةُ الصَّافِنِ is said to be forbidden; meaning [ The praying ] of him who puts his feet close together: or, as some say, of him who turns back his foot [i. e. one of his feet ] like as the horse turns his hoof [i. e. one of his hoofs, when standing upon three legs ]. (TA.) -A2- الصَّافِنُ signifies [ The saphena, or crural vein; so in the present day; i. e.] the vein of the سَاق: (S: [see أَبْهَرُ, and see also النَّسَا:]) or a vein lying deep in the arm (الذِّرَاع) [ and ] amid the sinews of the [ fore ] shank of a beast: or the صَافِنَانِ are two veins penetrating into the interior of the two shanks: or two veins in the legs: or two branches [ of veins ] in the two thighs: and the صافن is [strangely said to be] a vein in the interior of the back bone, extending lengthwise, uniting with the نِيَاط [q. v.] of the heart, also called the أَكْحَل. (M.)