شَفْرَةٌ

A large knife; (S, A, K;) as also شِفْرَةٌ, though this is mentioned only by the author of the Mgh; (MF; [but it is not in my copy of the Mgh; and Golius mentions شُفْرَةٌ as having this signification, on the authority of Meyd;]) or a broad knife: (Mgh, Msb:) plural شِفَارٌ (Msb, K) and شَفَرَاتٌ (Msb) and [coll. gen. n., of which شِفْرَةٌ is the n. un., or it may be a quasi-plural n. of شَفْرَةٌ,] شِفْرٌ. (TA.)

And hence, (Mgh, TA,) (tropical:) A servant; (S, Mgh, TA;) because of his utility. (TA.) It is said in a prov., أَصْغَرُ القَوْمِ شَفْرَتُهُمْ (tropical:) The least of the party is their servant. (S, Mgh.)

Also A shoemaker's knife. (S, K.)

And A piece of iron made broad, and edged, or pointed. (K.)

A broad blade: so says the author of the Mgh. (TA. [But not in my copy of the Mgh.])

The edge, or cutting part, (حَدّ,) of a sword: (S, Mgh, K:) or the edge of the cutting part of a sword. (TA. [See ذُبَابٌ.]) The side of a blade: (K:) or each of the two sides thereof. (AHn, TA.) [Each of the two sharp sides or edges of a spear-head and of an arrow-head.]