نمس

نِمْسٌ ذ [The ichneumon; so called in the present day;] a certain small beast. (IKt, El-Fárábee, S, M, Msb, K,) broad, as though it were a piece of قَدِيد [or salted or sun-dried flesh-meat ]. (S) found in the land of Egypt, (S, K, *) one of the most malignant of wild animals, (M,) that kills the [ kind of serpent called ] ثُعْبَان: (IKt. ElFárábee, S, M, Msb, K:) the keeper of vines or palm-trees or seed-produce (النَّاظِرٌ) takes it for his use, when he is in vehement fear of serpents of the kind above mentioned: for it attacks them, making itself thin and slender as though it were a piece of rope; and when it winds itself upon them, they draw back their breath vehemently, and it take their breath; thus the serpent becomes inflated in its inside, and is cut asunder: (TA.) or i. g. اِبْنُ عِرْسٍ [the weasel ]: (IKt, TA:) or a certain small beast, resembling the cat, generally frequenting gardens; accord. to IF, also called دَلَقٌ [q. v.]; (Msb;) the beast called دَلَهْ [the Persian original of دَلَقٌ]; [see اِبْنُ مِقْرَضٍ, in art. قرض;] called نمس from نَمَّسَ in the first of the senses explained above: (A;) or i. q. ظَرِبَانٌ: (El-Mufaddal Ibn-Selemeh, TA:) from these various sayings, it appears that several species are called by this name: (TA:) pl. [of pauc.] أَنْمَاسٌ (TA) and [of mult.] نُمُوسٌ. (Msb.) You say, فِى النَّاسِ أَنْمَاسٌ [app. meaning, Among men are some that are malignant as the animals called انماس]. (A. TA.)