مِشْكَاةٌ

A niche in a wall; i. e. a hole, or hollow, (كُوَّةٌ,) in a wall, not extending through; (Fr, S, M, K, &c.;) in which a lamp, placed therein, gives more light than it does elsewhere: thus expl: by the generality of the expositors [of the Qur'an]; and this is said by Ibn-' Ateeyeh to be the most correct explanation: (TA:) said by Aboo-Moosà to mean the iron, or leaden, thing in which is the wick [of the lamp]: thought by Az to mean the tube which is the place of the wick in the glass lamp, as being likened to the كُوَّة which is thus called: (TA:) some explained it as having this meaning in the Qur'an, 24:35, and say that the مِصْبَاح there mentioned is the lighted wick: (Bd:) according to Mujáhid, the pillar, or the like, (العَمُود,) upon the top, or head, of which the مِصْبَاح [meaning lamp] is put: or the iron things by means of which the قِنْدِيل [or lamp] is suspended: IJ says that its ا is originally و, and hence it is [often] written مِشْكٰوةٌ: and Zj says that it is an Abyssinian word, and used in the language of the Arabs: (TA:) [the plural is مَشَاكٍ, like مَسَاحٍ plural of مِسْحَاةٌ:] Kaab says that, in the verse of the Qur'an, 24:35, by the مِشْكَاة is meant the breast of Mohammad; and by the مِصْبَاح, his tongue; and by the زُجَاجَة, his mouth. (TA.)