كرب

كَرَبٌ ذ The rope that is tied to the bucket after the مَنِين, which is the first [or main ] rope, so that it ( the كرب) remains if the منين break: or the rope that is tied to the middle of the cross-bars of the bucket, ( and is then doubled, and then trebled, S,) so as to be that which is next the water, in order that the great rope may not rot: (S, K:) but in a marginal note in a copy of the S, it is said that this latter explanation properly applies to the دَرَك; not to the كرب: (IM:) pl. أَكْرَابٌ. (TA.) -A2- كَرَبٌ [coll. gen. n.] The lower parts, or ends, of palm-branches, (S, K,) which are thick and broad, (K,) like shoulderblades: (S:) or the stumps of the branches, or what remain upon the palm-tree, of the lower parts, or ends, of the branches, after the lopping, like steps: n. un. with ة. (TA.) Hence the proverb, مَتَى كَانَ حُكْمُ اللّٰهِ فِى كَرَبِ النَّخْلِ [ When was the wisdom of God in the stumps, or lower ends, of palm-branches? ] (S.) Said by Jereer, in reply to Es-Salatán El-'Abdee, who had pronounced El-Ferezdak superior to Jereer in point of lineage, and Jereer superior to ElFerezdak as a poet. IB denies it to be a proverb; but IM contends against him that it is, [The meaning is, When was God's wisdom in husbandmen, and possessors of palm-trees? for the region of Es-Salatán's tribe abounded in palm-trees. The words are applied to a man who provokes another to a contest for excellence, being unworthy of the contest. See Freytag, Arab. Prov., ii. 628.]