ورل

Root entry · 7 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns a large desert lizard known as the 'waral', its physical characteristics, and its habitat. It also touches upon related terms for its plural forms, a place name, and a metaphorical expression for a grave matter.

Derived headwords

الوَرَلnoun

1.
Desert lizardboth
A large desert reptile, similar in build to a Uromastyx (dabb), but larger. It inhabits sandy deserts.

أَوْرَالnoun

1.
Plural of waralclassical
The plural form of the word 'waral', referring to multiple desert lizards.

وُرْلَانnoun

1.
Plural of waralclassical
Another plural form for the desert lizard 'waral'.

أَرْؤُلnoun

1.
Plural of waralclassical
A plural form of 'waral', noted as potentially being an inversion of 'awral' with the initial 'waw' changed to a hamza.

وَرْلَةnoun

1.
Female waralboth
The feminine form of the word 'waral', referring to a female desert lizard.

أَرَلَname

1.
Place nameclassical
A place name, possibly derived from the root 'waral', with speculation about the origin of its initial hamza.

وَرَنْتَلnoun

1.
Grave matterclassical
An expression signifying a serious or grave affair, used metaphorically.

Parallel reading

دابة على خلقة الضب إلا أنه أعظم منه، يكون في الرمال والصحاري

A creature resembling the Uromastyx (dabb) in form, but larger than it, inhabiting sands and deserts.

والجمع أورال في العدد وورلان وأرؤل، بالهمز

And the plural is 'awral' in number, and 'wurlān' and 'ar'ūl', with hamza.

أرؤل مقلوب من أورل، وقلبت الواو همزة لانضمامها

'Ar'ūl' is an inversion of 'awral', and the 'waw' was changed to a hamza due to its being rounded.

تطعم فرخا لها، قرقمه الجوع والإحثال ... قلوب خزان ذوي أورال كما ترزق العيال

Feeding its young, hunger and thirst tormenting it... hearts of treasurers with 'awral' as sustenance is provided for families.

عن لسان، كجثة الورل الأصفر، ... مج الندى عليه العرار

From Lisan, like the carcass of the yellow waral, ... dew moistens it and the desert flowers (ar'ar).

والأنثى ورلة

And the female is a 'waralah'.

الورل سبط الخلق طويل الذنب كأن ذنبه ذنب حية

The waral is of a slender build, long-tailed, as if its tail were the tail of a snake.

يربو طوله على ذراعين

Its length can exceed two cubits.

والعرب تستخبث الورل وتستقذره فلا تأكله

Arabs consider the waral repulsive and detestable, so they do not eat it.

وأما الضب فإنهم يحرصون على صيده وأكله

As for the Uromastyx (dabb), they are keen on hunting and eating it.

وإذا سمن اصفر صدره ولا يأكل إلا الجنادب والدباء والعشب ولا يأكل الهوام

And when it fattens, its chest turns yellow, and it eats only locusts, desert gourds, and grass, and does not eat vermin.

وأما الورل فإنه يأكل العقارب والحيات والحرابي والخنافس ولحمه درياق

As for the waral, it eats scorpions, snakes, lizards, and beetles, and its flesh is an antidote.

والنساء يتسمن بلحمه

And women fatten themselves with its flesh.

أرل: موضع يجوز أن تكون همزته مبدلة من واو، وأن تكون وضعا، قال ابن سيده: وأن تكون وضعا أولى لأنا لم نسمع ورلا البتة.

'Arl': A place name, it is possible its hamza is a substitution for a 'waw', or that it is original. Ibn Sidah said: That it is original is more likely, as we have never heard 'waral' at all.

ورنتل: الشر والأمر العظيم، مثل به سيبويه وفسره السيرافي

'Warantal': Evil and a grave matter, cited by Sibawayh and explained by Al-Sirafi.