شِتَاءٌ
1.
a word of well-known meaning [in the sense in which it is most commonly used, i. e. Winter]; (S;) one of the quarters [of the circle] of the seasons; (K;) and
شَاتَاةٌ signifies the same; (Sgh, K;) [and so does
شَتِيَّةٌ; (see an example voce رِبْعِىٌّ;)] and so does
مَشْتَاةٌ: (Msb, TA:) [also the half-year commencing at the autumnal equinox:] ISk says, السَّنَةُ is with the Arabs a name for twelve months: then they divided it into two halves, and commenced the سَنَة [or year] at the commencement of the شِتَاء because this word is masculine and the word صَيْف [meaning in this case the “ half-year commencing at the vernal equinox ”] is feminine: then they divided the شِتَاء into two halves; the شتوى being the former; and the ربيع, the latter; [but this is a manifest mistake, probably attributable to a copyist; for, as is well known, the former half is called the رَبِيع; and the latter, the شِتَاء or
شَتْوَة;] each consisting of three months; and in like manner the صَيْف and the قَيْظ consist, each, of three months: (TA:) also one of the six seasons into which the year is divided, each whereof consists of two months; namely, the season [commencing in November and ending in January,] next after that called
الخَرِيفُ: (S and K voce رَبِيعٌ: [see this word; and see, again, the former of the two tables mentioned above:]) according to Mbr, (S,) شِتَاءٌ is plural of
شَتْوَةٌ; (S, Msb, K;) it is said to be so by IF on the authority of Kh, and by some on the authority of Fr or some other: or شِتَاءٌ and
شَتْوَةٌ signify the same, (K,) as is said in the M; (TA;) [i. e.] some say that الشِّتَاءُ is a proper name for the quarter [&c.]: (Msb:) the plural is أَشْتِيَةٌ, (S, Msb, K,) i. e. plural of شِتَاءٌ, (S, Msb,) because أَفْعِلَةٌ, as plural of فِعَالٌ, is peculiar to a masculine [noun]; (Msb;) and شُتِىٌّ also, (K, TA,) originally أُشْتُوىٌ [a mistake for شُتُوىٌ], written in the Tekmileh شِتِىٌّ, as on the authority of Fr.: (TA:) the plural of its synonym
مَشْتَاةٌ is مَشَاتٍ. (Msb.)
2.
Also, i. e. شِتَاءٌ, Hail, synonym بَرَدٌ, (K, TA, [in the CK بَرْدٌ,]) that falls from the sky. (TA.)
3.
And Drought, or dearth: (K, and Ham pp. 117 and 150:) this meaning being assigned to the شتاء exclusively of the صَيْف because in it the people keep to the tents, not going forth to seek after herbage. (TA.)