سنف

Root entry · 14 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns straps, cords, or bands used to secure or stabilize something, particularly on animals like camels and horses. It extends to concepts of advancement, firmness, and even the fruit casing of certain plants.

Derived headwords

السِّنَافnoun

1.
strap for camel's chestclassical
A strap that is tightened from the camel's chest to its rear, then tied around its neck when it is lean. It serves a similar function to the 'lubab' (chest strap) on a horse.
2.
strap to secure saddleclassical
A strap made behind the saddle or elsewhere to prevent it from slipping, especially on horses with prominent withers.
3.
fruit casingclassical
The casing of the fruit of the 'marrkh' plant.
4.
mound of legumesclassical
A mound of chickpeas, broad beans, lentils, or similar legumes.
5.
bare stalkclassical
A stalk stripped of its leaves.

أبقى السناف أثرا بأنهضه — The strap left a mark on its hindquarters

سَنَفَverb

1.
to tie with a strapclassical
To tie an animal, especially a camel, with the 'sanaaf' strap.

يَسْنُفُverb

1.
to tie with a strapclassical
To tie an animal, especially a camel, with the 'sanaaf' strap.

سَنَفًاnoun

1.
tying with a strapclassical
The act of tying an animal with the 'sanaaf' strap.

أَسْنَفَverb

1.
to tie with a strapclassical
To tie an animal with the 'sanaaf' strap.
2.
to advanceclassical
For a horse to advance ahead of other horses in a race.
3.
to firm upclassical
To make a matter firm or secure; to accomplish something well.

وأبى الأصمعي إلا أسنفت — Al-Asma'i insisted only on 'asnafta' (tying with a strap).

مُسَنَّفَةadjective

1.
having a strapclassical
A camel that has had 'asnafah' (straps) fitted, usually when its belly is hollow and its chest strap is loose.
2.
advancing horseclassical
A horse that advances ahead of other horses in a race.
3.
advanced camelclassical
A camel that advances or has its neck positioned forward for travel.

ومسنفة فضل الزمام — And a (camel) with an advanced leading rein

مَسَانِيفnoun

1.
camels with strapsclassical
Camels that have had 'asnafah' (straps) fitted.

السَّنِيفnoun

1.
strap on camel's shoulderclassical
A cloth or strap tied onto a camel's shoulder.

سُنُوفnoun

1.
mounds of legumesclassical
Mounds of chickpeas, broad beans, lentils, and similar legumes.

مَسَانِفnoun

1.
barren yearsclassical
Years of drought or famine.

ويغبقن محضا، وهي محل مسانف — And they are given milk in the evening, and it is a place of barren years.

مُسَنَّفَةadjective

1.
advancing horseclassical
A horse that advances ahead of other horses in a race.
2.
barren yearclassical
A year of drought or famine.

أَسْنَفَتِ الرِّيحُverb

1.
wind blew dustclassical
The wind blew dust, similar to 'saafat'.

السَّنَفَةnoun

1.
fruit casingclassical
The casing of the fruit of the 'marrkh' plant.
2.
ear-like appendageclassical
Something resembling the ear of a horse, possibly referring to the shape of the fruit casing.

السَّنَفnoun

1.
fruit casingclassical
The casing of the fruit of the 'marrkh' plant.
2.
bare stalkclassical
A stalk stripped of its leaves.

تقلقل سنف المرخ في جعبة صفر — The fruit casing of the marrkh rattled in a yellow quiver.

Parallel reading

السناف: خيط يشد من حقب البعير إلى تصديره ثم يشد في عنقه إذا ضمر، والجمع سنف.

The sanaaf: a strap that is tightened from the camel's chest to its rear, then tied around its neck when it is lean, and its plural is sanf.

الجوهري: قال الخليل السناف للبعير بمنزلة اللبب للدابة؛

Al-Jawhari said: Al-Khaleel said the sanaaf for a camel is like the lubab for a horse;

ومن قول هميان بن قحافة: أبقى السناف أثرا بأنهضه، ... قريبة ندوته من محمضه

And from the saying of Humayyan bin Quhafah: The strap left a mark on its hindquarters, ... its dewiness close to its sourness

وسنف البعير يسنفه ويسنفه سنفا وأسنفه: شده بالسناف؛

And to tie the camel with the sanaaf, to tie it, to tie it with a sanaaf, and to tie it: to tighten it with the sanaaf;

قال الجوهري: وأبى الأصمعي إلا أسنفت.

Al-Jawhari said: And Al-Asma'i insisted only on 'asnafta' (tying with a strap).

الأصمعي: السناف حبل يشد من التصدير إلى خلف الكركرة حتى يثبت التصدير في موضعه.

Al-Asma'i: The sanaaf is a rope tied from the chest to behind the saddle to keep the saddle in place.

وهي إبل مسنفات إذا جعل لها أسنفة تجعل وراء كراكرها.

And they are camels that have had straps fitted if straps are made for them behind their saddles.

ابن سيده: السناف سير يجعل من ورا اللبب أو غير سير لئلا يزل.

Ibn Sidah: The sanaaf is a strap made behind the chest strap or not a strap, so that it does not slip.

وخيل مسنفات: مشرفات المناسج، وذلك محمود فيها لأنه لا يعتري إلا خيارها وكرامها و إذا كان ذلك كذلك فإن السروج تتأخر عن ظهورها فيجعل لها ذلك السناف لتثبت به السروج.

And horses that are musannafat: prominent of the weaving (of their backs), and that is praised in them because it only occurs in their best and noblest, and if that is the case, then the saddles lag behind their backs, so that strap is made for them to secure the saddles.

والسنيف: ثوب يشد على كتف البعير، والجمع سنف.

And the suneef: a cloth tied onto the camel's shoulder, and its plural is sanf.

أبو عمرو: السنف ثياب توضع على أكتاف الإبل مثل الأشلة على مآخيرها.

Abu Amr: The sanf is clothes placed on the shoulders of camels like the 'ashalah' on their hindquarters.

وبعير مسناف: يؤخر الرحل فيجعل له سناف، والجمع مسانيف.

And a musnaaf camel: the saddle is delayed, and a sanaaf is made for it, and its plural is masaneef.

والتهذيب: المسنفات، بكسر النون، المتقدمات في سيرها؛ وقد أسنف البعير إذا تقدم أو قدم عنقه للسير؛

And Al-Tahdheeb: Al-musannafaat, with a kasra on the noon, are those that advance in their travel; and the camel has been 'asnafa' if it advances or positions its neck forward for travel;

وقال كثير في تقديم البعير زمامه: ومسنفة فضل الزمام، إذا انتحى ... بهزة هاديها على السوم بازل

And Kathir said about the camel advancing its rein: And a musannafah with an advanced rein, when it moves... with the movement of its leader on the grazing young camel

وفرس مسنفة إذا كانت تتقدم الخيل؛

And a musannafah horse if it advances ahead of the horses;

ومن قول ابن كلثوم: إذا ما عي بالإسناف حي ... على الأمر المشبه أن يكونا

And from the saying of Ibn Kulthum: If a people are perplexed by advancing... about a matter resembling what is to be.

قال الأزهري: وليس قول من قال إن معنى قوله إذا ما عي بالإسناف أن يدهش فلا يدري أين يشد السناف بشيء هو باطل، إنما قاله الليث.

Al-Azhari said: And the saying of whoever said that the meaning of 'if he is perplexed by advancing' is that he is bewildered and does not know where to tie the sanaaf is false; Al-Layth only said that.

الجوهري: أسنف الفرس أي تقدم الخيل، فإذا سمعت في الشعر مسنفة، بكسر النون، فهي من هذا، وهي الفرس تتقدم الخيل في سيرها، وإذا سمعت مسنفة، بفتح النون، فهي الناقة من السناف أي شد عليها ذلك، وربما قالوا أسنفوا أمرهم أي أحكموه، وهو استعارة من هذا.

Al-Jawhari: 'Asnafa' the horse means to advance ahead of the horses. So if you hear in poetry 'musannafah', with a kasra on the noon, it is from this, and it is the horse that advances ahead of the horses in its travel. And if you hear 'musannafah', with a fatha on the noon, it is the camel from the sanaaf, meaning that was tightened upon it. And they might say 'asnafu amrahum' meaning they firmed up their affair, and it is a metaphor from this.

قال: ويقال في المثل لمن تحير في أمره: عي بالإسناف.

He said: And it is said in a proverb for one who is bewildered in his affair: 'He is perplexed by advancing'.

قال ابن بري في قول الجوهري: فإذا سمعت في الشعر مسنفة، بكسر النون، فهو من هذا، قال: قال ثعلب المسانيف المتقدمة؛ وأنشد: قد قلت يوما للغراب، إذ حجل: ... عليك بالإبل المسانيف الأول

Ibn Barrī said regarding Al-Jawhari's statement: So if you hear in poetry 'musannafah', with a kasra on the noon, it is from this. He said: Tha'lab said Al-masaneef are the advancing ones; and he recited: I said one day to the crow, as it hopped: ... Upon you are the first of the advancing camels.

قال: والمسنف المتقدم، والمسنف: المشدود بالسناف؛ وأنشد الأعشى في المتقدم أيضا: وما خلت أبقى بيننا من مودة ... عراض المذاكي المسنفات القلائصا

He said: And al-musannaf is the advancing one, and al-musannaf: the one tied with the sanaaf; and Al-A'sha recited about the advancing one also: And I did not think any affection would remain between us... the wide-backed, advancing she-camels.

ابن شميل: المسناف من الإبل التي تقدم الحمل، قال: والمجناة التي تؤخر الحمل، وعرض عليه قول الليث فأنكره.

Ibn Shammil: Al-misnaaf is from the camels that advance with the load, he said: And al-mijnāh is that which delays the load, and Al-Layth's statement was presented to him, and he rejected it.

وناقة مسنف ومسناف: ضامر؛ عن أبي عمرو.

And a musannaf and musnaaf she-camel: lean; according to Abu Amr.

وأسنف الأمر: أحكمه.

And 'asnafa' the matter: to firm it up.

والسنف، بالكسر: ورقة المرخ، وفي المحكم: السنف الورقة، وقيل: وعاء ثمر المرخ؛

And al-sanf, with a kasra: the leaf of the marrkh, and in Al-Muhkam: al-sanf is the leaf, and it was said: the casing of the marrkh fruit;

قال ابن مقبل: تقلقل من ضغم اللجام لهاتها، ... تقلقل سنف المرخ في جعبة صفر

Ibn Muqbil said: Its palate rattled from the bit's bite, ... the marrkh fruit casing rattled in a yellow quiver.

والجمع سنفة وتشبه به آذان الخيل.

And its plural is sanfah, and the ears of horses are likened to it.

قال ابن بري في السنف وعاء ثمر المرخ، قال: هذا هو الصحيح، قال: وهو قول أهل المعرفة بالمرخ، قال: وقال علي بن حمزة ليس للمرخ ورق ولا شوك وإنما له قضبان دقاق تنبت في شعب، وأما السنف فهو وعاء ثمر المرخ لا غير، قال: وكذلك ذكره أهل اللغة، والذي حكي عن أبي عمرو من أن السنف ورقة المرخ مردود غير مقبول؛

Ibn Barrī said about al-sanf: the casing of the marrkh fruit. He said: This is correct. He said: And it is the saying of those knowledgeable about the marrkh. He said: And Ali bin Hamzah said the marrkh has no leaves or thorns, only thin branches that grow in crevices. As for al-sanf, it is nothing but the casing of the marrkh fruit. He said: And so the linguists mentioned it. And what was narrated from Abu Amr that al-sanf is the leaf of the marrkh is rejected and unacceptable;

وقال في البيت الذي أنشده ابن سيده بكماله وأورد الجوهري عجزه ونسباه لابن مقبل وهو: تقلقل سنف المرخ في جعبة صفر هكذا هو في شعر الجعدي، قال: وكذا هي الرواية فيه عود المرخ؛ قال: وأما السنف ففي بيت ابن مقبل وهو: يرخي العذار، ولو طالت قبائله ... عن حشرة مثل سنف المرخة الصفر

And he said about the verse that Ibn Sidah recited in full, and Al-Jawhari cited its latter half, and they attributed it to Ibn Muqbil, which is: The marrkh fruit casing rattled in a yellow quiver. This is how it is in the poetry of Al-Ja'di. He said: And so is the narration of the marrkh twig. He said: As for al-sanf, it is in the verse of Ibn Muqbil, which is: He loosens the bridle, even if his robes extend... from an insect like the yellow marrkh casing.

الحشرة: الأذن اللطيفة المحددة: قال أبو حنيفة: السنفة وعاء كل ثمر، مستطيلا كان أو مستديرا، وجمعها سنف وجمع السنف سنفة

Al-hasharah: the delicate, pointed ear. Abu Hanifa said: Al-sanfah is the casing of every fruit, whether elongated or round, and its plural is sanf, and the plural of sanf is sanfah.

ويقال لأكمة الباقلاء واللوبياء والعدس وما أشبهها: سنوف، واحدها سنف.

And a mound of chickpeas, broad beans, lentils, and similar is called sunoof, its singular is sanf.

والسنف: العود المجرد من الورق.

And al-sanf: the stalk stripped of its leaves.

والمسانف: السنون؛ قال ابن سيده: أعني بالسنين السنين المجدبة كأنهم شنعوها فجمعوها؛ قال القطامي: ونحن نرود الخيل، وسط بيوتنا، ... ويغبقن محضا، وهي محل مسانف

And al-masanif: the years. Ibn Sidah said: I mean by 'al-sineen' the barren years, as if they made them severe and gathered them. Al-Qutami said: And we seek out the horses, in the midst of our homes, ... And they are given milk in the evening, and it is a place of barren years.

الواحدة مسنفة؛ عن أبي حنيفة.

Its singular is musannafah; according to Abu Hanifa.

وأسنفت الريح: سافت التراب.

And the wind 'asnafat': it blew dust.