خ ط ف

Root entry · 29 derived lemmas

The root خ ط ف (kh-t-f) primarily denotes swiftness, snatching, or sudden taking. It extends to concepts of quick movement, stealing, and even visual perception being suddenly captured or obscured. This root also encompasses terms for speed, specific objects or animals associated with quickness, and metaphorical uses related to physical or abstract swiftness.

Derived headwords

خَطَفَverb

1.
to snatchboth
To seize or take something suddenly and quickly.
2.
to stealboth
To take something stealthily and rapidly.
3.
to dazzleboth
To overwhelm or captivate the sight suddenly.
4.
to be swiftboth
To move with great speed.

يخطف أبصارهم — it snatches their sight

يختطفون السمع أي: يسترقونه ويستلبونه — they snatch the hearing, meaning: they steal it and take it away

خَطْفًاnoun

1.
snatchingboth
The act of snatching or seizing something quickly.
2.
swiftnessboth
Great speed in movement.

مر يخطف خطفا منكرا — he passed with a terrible swiftness

خَطْفَةnoun

1.
a snatchboth
A single instance of snatching or taking something quickly.
2.
a quick biteboth
A small amount of food taken quickly.
3.
a piececlassical
A part or portion taken from something, especially from a living animal.

إلا من خطف الخطفة — except he who snatches a snatch

نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الخطفة — The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, forbade the khutfa (a piece snatched from a live animal)

اخْتَطَفَverb

1.
to snatch awayboth
To seize and take away something rapidly and forcefully.
2.
to stealboth
To take something stealthily, often implying a quick, furtive action.

اختطفه — he snatched it away

يتخطف الناس من حولهم — and snatch people from around them

خَاطِف ظِلّهnoun

1.
a bird that chases its shadowclassical
A type of bird, possibly the Rafraf, that pursues its own shadow in the water, mistaking it for prey.

وخاطف ظله طائر — And the chaser of its shadow is a bird

الخَاطِفnoun

1.
lightningboth
Lightning, which is described as snatching or dazzling the eyes.
2.
wolfboth
A wolf, known for snatching prey.
3.
a swift objectboth
Anything that moves or appears with great speed, like a sword or a polished object.

يكاد البرق يخطف أبصارهم — Lightning almost snatches away their sight

والخاطف: الذئب، لاستلابه الفريسة — And the Khatef: the wolf, for its snatching of prey

خَطْفَىname

1.
a nicknameclassical
A nickname given to Hudhayfah, the grandfather of the poet Jarir.

وعنقا بعد الرسيم خطفى — And a neck after the slow pace, swift

خَيْطَفَىadjective

1.
swiftclassical
Moving very quickly; rapid.

ويروى: خيطفى كما في الصحاح، وفي النقائض: خيطفى، أي: سريعا — And it is narrated: Khaytifa, as in Al-Sihah, and in Al-Naqaid: Khaytifa, meaning: swift

الخُطْفَىnoun

1.
swiftnessclassical
Speed in walking, as if one's neck is being pulled forward.

والخطفى: السرعة في المشي، كأنه يختطف في مشيته عنقه، أي يجتذبه، كالخيطفى — And Al-Khutfa: swiftness in walking, as if one's neck is snatched in their gait, meaning pulled, like Al-Khaytifa

خَيْطَفadjective

1.
swiftclassical
Describing a camel that moves with great speed.

وهو جمل خيطف، كهيكل: سريع المر — And it is a swift camel, like Haykal: fast-moving

خَطَفَانnoun

1.
swiftnessclassical
The act or state of moving swiftly.

وقد خطف، كسمع، وضرب، يخطف، ويخطف، خطفانا، هكذا هو بالتحريك في سائر النسخ، وصوابه: خطفا، بالفتح، كما هو نص اللسان — And he snatched, as in Sami'a, and Daraba, yakhṭifu, and yakhṭifu, khaṭafānan, this is with harakah in all copies, and its correction is: khaṭafan, with fatha, as is the text of Al-Lisan.

الخَاطُوفnoun

1.
a type of snareclassical
A tool resembling a sickle, attached to a snare, used to catch prey like a gazelle.

والخاطوف: شبه المنجل يشد بحبالة الصيد، كذا في العباب، وفي اللسان: في حبالة الصائد، فيختطف به الظبي — And Al-Khutuf: like a sickle attached to a hunting snare, as in Al-Abab, and in Al-Lisan: in the hunter's snare, by which the gazelle is snatched.

خَطِيفَةnoun

1.
a type of foodboth
A dish made from milk, flour, and sometimes cooked, eaten quickly with spoons.
2.
snatchingclassical
The act of snatching or taking something quickly.

صحفة فيها خطيفة وملبنة الخطيفة، دقيق يذر عليه اللبن، ثم يطبخ، فيلعق، ويختطف بالملاعق — A dish containing khateefa and malbana. Al-Khateefa: flour sprinkled with milk, then cooked, licked, and snatched with spoons.

الخُطَّافnoun

1.
swallow (bird)both
A black bird, commonly called the 'bird of paradise'.
2.
hookboth
A curved piece of iron found on the sides of a pulley, or any curved iron piece.
3.
4.
5.

لأن أكون نفضت يدي من قبور بني، أحب إلي من أن يقع مني بيض الخطاف فينكسر — To have shaken my hand from the graves of my children is dearer to me than for the eggs of a swallow to fall from me and break.

خطاطيف حجن في حبال متينة — Hooks curved in strong ropes

أَخْطَفَverb

1.
to miss (a target)both
To fail to hit or reach a target.
2.
to snatch awayclassical
To take something away suddenly.
3.
to recover from illnessclassical
To recover quickly from a minor illness.

إذا أصاب صيده أو أخطفا — if it hit its prey or missed it

أخطفته الحمى، وهو نص اللحياني، عن أبي صفوان، أي: أقلعت عنه — Fever snatched it away from him, and this is the text of Al-Lihyani, from Abu Safwan, meaning: it ceased from him.

مَخْطُوفadjective

1.
snatchedboth
Having been seized or taken suddenly.
2.
emaciatedclassical
Having a shrunken or gaunt stomach.

ومخطوفه: أي ضامره — and makhtufuhu: meaning shrunken

أو مخطف البطن لاحته نحائصه — or one with a snatched belly whose sides are exposed

مُخْطَفadjective

1.
snatchedclassical
Describing something that has been snatched or taken quickly.
2.
shrunkenclassical
Having a shrunken or gaunt stomach.

وسيف مخطف: يخطف البصر بلمعه، وهو مجاز — And a snatched sword: dazzling the sight with its gleam, and this is metaphorical

الخَطْفnoun

1.
swiftnessclassical
Great speed, similar to madness.
2.
emaciationclassical
Thinness of the flank or side.

به خطف قد حذرته المقاعد — He had a swiftness that the seats warned him against

الإخْطَافnoun

1.
swiftnessclassical
The swift movement of a horse.
2.
interruption of speechclassical
Starting a conversation and then stopping abruptly.

والإخطاف في الخيل: عيب، وهو ضد الانتفاخ — And Al-Ikhtaf in horses: a defect, and it is the opposite of bloating.

خَوَاطِفadjective

1.
missing the markclassical
Arrows that miss their target.

من النبل لا بالطائشات الخواطف — of arrows, not the straying, missing ones

خُطَّافname

1.
a nameclassical
The name of a female dog belonging to a hunter.

خُطَّافname

1.
a hillclassical
The name of a hill.

مُخْطِفadjective

1.
sicklyclassical
Suffering from a minor illness and recovering quickly.

ورجل مخطف، ومخطوف، وأخطف الرجل: مرض يسيرا ن ثم برأ سريعا — And a man makhtaf, and makhṭūf, and akhṭafa the man: he fell ill briefly and then recovered quickly.

خَياطِفnoun

1.
chasmsclassical
Deep valleys or ravines.

خياطف علود صعاب مراتبه — high, difficult, steep ravines

تَخَطَّفَverb

1.
to snatch awayboth
To snatch or seize something repeatedly or forcefully.

وتخطفه: اختطفه، ومنه قوله تعالى: ويتخطف الناس من حولهم — And takhaṭṭafahu: he snatched it away, and from it is His saying: and snatch people from around them

الخُطَّافnoun

1.
a wicked personclassical
A wicked, sinful man.

من كل خطاف وأعرابي — from every wicked man and bedouin

خُطَّافname

1.
a nameclassical
The name of a horse.

خُطَّافname

1.
a nameclassical
The name of a person, 'Abd Allah bin Khataf.

خُطَّافname

1.
a nameclassical
The name of a person, Ghalib bin Khataf.

Parallel reading

يخطف الشيء، كسمع، يخطفه، خطفا، وهي اللغة الجيدة

He snatches the thing, as in Sami'a, he snatches it, khaṭafan, and this is the good pronunciation.

استلبه، وقيل: أخذه في سرعة واستلاب

He snatched it away, and it was said: he took it with speed and stealth.

خطف البرق البصر

Lightning snatched the sight.

يكاد البرق يخطف أبصارهم

Lightning almost snatches away their sight.

خطف الشيطان السمع: استرقه، كاختطفه

Satan snatched the hearing: he stole it, like ikhtaṭafahu.

إلا من خطف الخطفة

except he who snatches a snatch.

يختطفون السمع أي: يسترقونه ويستلبونه

they snatch the hearing, meaning: they steal it and take it away.

وخاطف ظله طائر

And the chaser of its shadow is a bird.

يحسبه صيدا

thinking it is prey.

نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الخطفة

The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, forbade the khutfa.

وهي في الأصل للمرة الواحدة، ثم سمي بها العضو الذي يختطفه السبع

And it is originally for one time, then the limb that a predator snatches is named after it.

فإن كل ما أبين من الحيوان وهو حي من لحم أو شحم فهو لا يحل أكله

For anything severed from a living animal, whether meat or fat, is not permissible to eat.

وعنقا بعد الرسيم خطفى

And a neck after the slow pace, swift.

هوى الخطفى لما اختطفت دماغه

The swiftness fell when its brain was snatched.

وهو جمل خيطف، كهيكل: سريع المر

And it is a swift camel, like Haykal: fast-moving.

والخاطوف: شبه المنجل يشد بحبالة الصيد

And Al-Khutuf: like a sickle attached to a hunting snare.

فيختطف به الظبي

by which the gazelle is snatched.

صحفة فيها خطيفة وملبنة

A dish containing khateefa and malbana.

والخطاف، كرمان: طائر أسود

And Al-Khataf, like Rummān: a black bird.

لأن أكون نفضت يدي من قبور بني، أحب إلي من أن يقع مني بيض الخطاف فينكسر

To have shaken my hand from the graves of my children is dearer to me than for the eggs of a swallow to fall from me and break.

والخطاف أيضا: حديدة حجناء، تكون في جانبي البكرة

And Al-Khataf also: a curved iron piece, found on the sides of the pulley.

خطاطيف حجن في حبال متينة

Hooks curved in strong ropes.

ومر خطاف على ماعز

And Khataf passed by Ma'iz.

تركنا فارس الخطاف يزقو

We left the rider of Al-Khataf crying out.

رجل أخطف الحشا، ومخطوفه: أي ضامره

A man with a snatched flank, and his makhtuf: meaning shrunken.

جمل مخطوف: وسم سمة خطاف البكرة

A marked camel: a mark like the hook of a pulley.

بعير مخطف البطن، وكذا: حمار مخطف البطن، أي: منطويه

A camel with a snatched belly, and likewise: a donkey with a snatched belly, meaning: shrunken.

أو مخطف البطن لاحته نحائصه

or one with a snatched belly whose sides are exposed.

وما الدهر إلا صرف يوم وليلة فمخطفة تنمى ومقعصة تصمى

And time is but the turn of day and night; some recover and grow, and some are struck and perish.

إذا أصاب صيده أو أخطفا

if it hit its prey or missed it.

أخطفته الأجادل

the eagles missed it.

مر يخطف خطفا منكرا

he passed with a terrible swiftness.

ويتخطف الناس من حولهم

and snatch people from around them.

إلا من خطف الخطفة، بالتشديد

except he who snatches a snatch, with shaddah.

والخطيفة، كسفينة: الاختلاس

And Al-Khateefa, like Safeena: snatching.

وسيف مخطف: يخطف البصر بلمعه، وهو مجاز

And a snatched sword: dazzling the sight with its gleam, and this is metaphorical.

والخطاف، كشداد: الشيطان

And Al-Khataf, like Shaddad: Satan.

نفقتك رياء وسمعة للخطاف

Your spending is hypocrisy and showing off for Al-Khataf (Satan).

والخيطف، كحيدر: سرعة انجذاب السير

And Al-Khayṭaf, like Haydar: the swiftness of the rein's pull.

مخاليب السباع: خطاطيفها، وهو مجاز

The claws of beasts: their hooks, and this is metaphorical.

خطاطيف الأسد: براثنه، شبهت بالحديد لحجنتها

The lion's hooks: its paws, likened to iron for their curvature.

من كل خطاف وأعرابي

from every wicked man and bedouin.

ورجل مخطف، ومخطوف، وأخطف الرجل: مرض يسيرا ن ثم برأ سريعا

And a man makhtaf, and makhṭūf, and akhṭafa the man: he fell ill briefly and then recovered quickly.

خطفت السفينة، وخطفت: أي سارت

The ship snatched, and snatched: meaning it sailed.

أخطف لي من حدثه شيئا ثم سكت، وهو الرجل يأخذ في الحديث، ثم يبدو له، فيقطع حديثه، وهو الإخطاف

Say to me from his speech something, then he fell silent, and he is the man who starts a conversation, then it occurs to him, and he cuts off his speech, and this is Al-Ikhtaf.

والخياطف: المهاوي، واحدها: خيطف

And Al-Khayatif: the ravines, singular: Khayṭaf.

به خطف قد حذرته المقاعد

He had a swiftness that the seats warned him against.

والإخطاف في الخيل: عيب، وهو ضد الانتفاخ

And Al-Ikhtaf in horses: a defect, and it is the opposite of bloating.

وأخطف السهم: استوى

And the arrow akhṭafa: it became straight.

سهام خواطف: خواطىء

Swift arrows: missing the mark.

تعرضن مرمى الصيد ثم رميننا من النبل لا بالطائشات الخواطف

They exposed themselves to the hunting ground, then they shot at us with arrows, not the straying, missing ones.