نعثل

Root entry · 4 derived lemmas

This root primarily describes foolishness and awkwardness, often associated with old age or specific physical characteristics. It also extends to describe a particular gait and, notably, was used as a derogatory epithet for Uthman ibn Affan, the third Caliph, due to his long beard and perceived resemblance to a specific Egyptian man.

Derived headwords

النَّعْثَلnoun

1.
foolish old manclassical
An old man characterized by foolishness and lack of sense.
2.
male hyenaclassical
The male of the hyena, also known as 'al-dhīkh'.
3.
derogatory name for Uthmanclassical
A derogatory epithet used by enemies of Uthman ibn Affan, likening him to a specific Egyptian man with a long beard.

نَعْثَلَةnoun

1.
foolishnessclassical
The quality or state of being foolish or senseless.
2.
gait of scoopingclassical
A manner of walking where one strides out and scoops with their feet, resembling arrogance or swagger.
3.
gait of an old manclassical
A specific way of walking characteristic of an old man, similar to 'al-naqthalah'.

نَعْثَلَverb

1.
to be foolishclassical
To exhibit foolishness or lack of sense.

مُنْعَثِلadjective

1.
spreading its legs (horse)classical
Describing a horse that spreads its legs while running, as if pulling them out of mud.

Parallel reading

النعثل: الشيخ الأحمق.

Al-Na'thal: the foolish old man.

ويقال: فيه نعثلة أي حمق.

And it is said: 'He has na'thalah,' meaning foolishness.

والنعثل: الذيخ وهو الذكر من الضباع.

And al-Na'thal: the dhīkh, which is the male of the hyena.

ونعثل: خمع.

And Na'thal: khama' (a type of plant, or possibly a reference to a specific person/thing).

والنعثلة: أن يمشي الرجل مفاجا ويقلب قدميه كأنه يغرف بهما، وهو من التبختر.

And al-Na'thalah: is when a man walks with wide strides, turning his feet as if scooping with them, and it is a form of swaggering.

ونعثل: رجل من أهل مصر كان طويل اللحية، قيل: إنه كان يشبه عثمان، رضي الله عنه؛ هذا قول أبي عبيد، وشاتمو عثمان، رضي الله عنه، يسمونه نعثلا.

And Na'thal: a man from Egypt who had a long beard; it was said he resembled Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him; this is the view of Abu Ubayd, and those who reviled Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, called him Na'thal.

فوذأه ابن سلام فاتذأ، فقال له رجل: لا يمنعنك مكان ابن سلام أن تسب نعثلا فإنه من شيعته

Ibn Salam rebuked him and he desisted. Then a man said to him: 'Let Ibn Salam's position not prevent you from reviling Na'thal, for he is one of his followers.'

وكان أعداء عثمان يسمونه نعثلا تشبيها بالرجل المصري المذكور آنفا.

And the enemies of Uthman called him Na'thal, likening him to the aforementioned Egyptian man.

اقتلوا نعثلا قتل الله نعثلا تعني عثمان، وكان هذا منها لما غاضبته وذهبت إلى مكة

'Kill Na'thal, may Allah kill Na'thal,' meaning Uthman. This was from her when she was angry with him and went to Mecca.

وكان عثمان إذا نيل منه وعيب شبه بهذا الرجل المصري لطول لحيته ولم يكونوا يجدون فيه عيبا غير هذا.

And when Uthman was spoken ill of and criticized, he was likened to this Egyptian man because of his long beard, and they did not find any fault in him other than this.

والنعثلة مثل النقثلة: وهي مشية الشيخ.

And al-Na'thalah is like al-Naqthalah: it is the gait of an old man.

نعثل الفرس في جريه إذا كان يقعد على رجليه من شدة العدو وهو عيب

The horse 'na'thala' in its running if it sits on its legs from the intensity of the gallop, and this is a defect.

كل مكب الجري أو منعثله

Every horse that bends low in its gallop or spreads its legs.

وفرس منعثل: يفرق قوائمه فإذا رفعها فكأنما ينزعها من وحل يخفق برأسه ولا تتبعه رجلاه.

And a 'mun'athil' horse: spreads its legs, and when it lifts them, it is as if it is pulling them out of mud, nodding its head, and its legs do not follow it properly.