خ ه ف ع

Root entry · 3 derived lemmas

This root appears to be extremely rare and possibly obscure, primarily discussed in relation to a specific, possibly mythical, creature. It is also associated with a kunya (sobriquet) of an Arab man.

Derived headwords

الخيهفعيname

1.
offspring of dog and wolfclassical
The offspring resulting from a male dog mating with a female wolf.
2.
sobriquetclassical
A kunya or sobriquet, specifically that of an Arab man from Banu Tamim.
3.
mythical creatureclassical
A creature described as being between a leopard and a hyena, found in Yemen, with specific physical characteristics.

أبو الخيهفعيname

1.
sobriquetclassical
The kunya of an Arab man from Banu Tamim, who was asked about the meaning of his kunya.

السمعname

1.
offspring of wolf and dogclassical
The offspring resulting from a male wolf mating with a female dog.

Parallel reading

وهو ولد الكلب من الذئبة إذا وقع عليها

And it is the offspring of the dog from the she-wolf if it mounts her.

وإذا وقع الذئب على الكلبة جاءت بالسمع

And if the wolf mounts the dog-bitch, she gives birth to al-Sam'.

يقال: هو الأسد

It is said: it is the lion.

وبه كنى أبو الخيهفعي: أعرابي من بني تميم

And by it, Abu al-Khayhaf'i was given his kunya: an Arab man from Banu Tamim.

وسألته عن تفسير كنيته فقال: يقال: إذا وقع الذئب على الكلبة جاءت بالسمع، وإذا وقع الكلب على الذئبة جاءت بالخيهفعي.

And I asked him about the interpretation of his kunya, and he said: It is said: if the wolf mounts the dog-bitch, she gives birth to al-Sam', and if the dog mounts the she-wolf, she gives birth to al-Khayhaf'i.

وهذه حروف لا أعرفها، ولم أجد لها أصلا في كتب الثقات الذين أخذوا عن العرب العاربة ما أودعوا كتبهم

And these are letters that I do not know, and I have not found a basis for them in the books of the trustworthy ones who took from the pure Arabs what they deposited in their books.

ولكن ذكرتها استندارا لها، وتعجبا منها، ولا أدري ما صحتها.

But I mentioned them relying on them, and out of wonder at them, and I do not know their authenticity.

أبو الخيهفعي: كنية رجل أعرابي يقال له: خزاب بن الأقرع

Abu al-Khayhaf'i: the kunya of an Arab man named Khazzab bin al-Aqra'.

فقيل له: لم تكنيت بهذا فقال: الخيهفعي: دابة يخرج بين النمر والضبع، يكون باليمن، أغضف الأذنين، غائر العينين، مشرف الحاجبين، أعصل الأنياب، ضخم البراثن، يفترس الأباعر.

And it was said to him: Why did you take this kunya? He said: Al-Khayhaf'i: a beast that emerges between the leopard and the hyena, found in Yemen, with drooping ears, sunken eyes, prominent eyebrows, protruding fangs, large paws, preying on camels.