فن

فَنَنٌ ذ A branch of a tree: (S, M, Msb, K:) or such as is of just proportion in length or in breadth: (T:) said to be syn. with غُصْنٌ; but this latter signifies “ such as has been cut off ” i. q. قَضِيبٌ meaning مَقْضُوبٌ: (M:) pl. أَفْنَانٌ; (T, S, M, Msb, K;) said by Sb to be its only pl.; (M;) occurring in the Kur lv. 48; where some explain it as pl. of فَنٌّ, and meaning “ sorts, ” or “ species ”; others, as pl. of فَنَنٌ: (T, Bd:) and أَفَانِينُ is a pl. pl., (T, S, K,) i. e. pl. of أَفْنَانٌ. (T, S.) ― -b2- And as a branch shelters like as does darkness, a poet uses it metaphorically, saying, أَغَاثَ شَرِيدَهُمْ فَنَنُ الظَّلَامِ (tropical:) [ The shelter of the darkness aided him, or them, who fled ]. (M.) ― -b3- And [in like manner also] the pl. pl. is used in a trad. describing the inmates of Paradise, as meaning (tropical:) Locks of hair; these being likened to branches: and El-Marrár says, أَعَلَاقَةً أُمَّ الوَلِيدِ بَعْدَمَا أَفْنَانُ رَأْسِكَ كَالثَّغَامِ المُخْلِسِ (tropical:) [Dost thou feel attachment of love to Umm-ElWeleed after that the locks of thy head have become like the hoary thaghám? ]; meaning the locks of the hair of his head when he had become hoary. (T. [See ثَغَامٌ.])