خطم

خَطْمٌ خطم The muzzle, i. e. the fore part of the nose and mouth, of a دابَّة [i. e. beast], (JK, S, Msb, K, TA,) whatever it be, (S, Msb,) as a dog, and a camel, but originally of a beast of prey, and of a sheep or goat: (TA:) or, of a beast of prey, i. q. خُرْطُومٌ: (IAar, TA:) or, as some say, of a beast of prey, [the lip, i. e.] what corresponds to the جَحْفَلَة of the horse: (TA:) or of a camel, the nose. (Mgh.) And (tropical:) The bill, or beak, of a bird, (JK, S, K, TA,) whatever it be, (JK, S,) as a hawk, or falcon, (JK,) and a قَطَاة. (TA.) And of a man, (tropical:) The nose; (K;) as also ↓ مَخْطِمٌ (JK, S, Msb, K, TA) and ↓ مِخْطَمٌ; (K, TA;) pl. مَخَاطِمُ: (JK, S, Msb, K:) or the fore part of the nose: (Har p. 433:) and the ↓ مخطم is also of a camel. (IAth, TA.) Also, of a man, (tropical:) The fore part of the face. (TA.) ― -b2- خَطْمُ اللَّيْلِ (tropical:) The first approach of night: like as one says أَنْفُ اللَّيْلِ. (TA.) ― -b3- See also خِطَامٌ. -A2- A thing, an affair, or a business, of magnitude. (IAar, Th, K.) It is related in a trad. that Mohammad promised a certain man to go forth to him, and delayed to do so; and when he went forth, he said to him, شَغَلَنِى خَطْمٌ, meaning A thing, &c., of magnitude [ occupied me so as to divert me ]; as though the م were a substitute for ب: (IAar, Th, TA:) but IAth says that it may mean (assumed tropical:) a thing, &c., that withheld me, or prevented me, [see 1,] from going forth. (TA.)