مَأْلَكٌ

is said to be the original form of مَلَكٌ [An angel; so called because he conveys, or communicates, the message from God; (K, * TA, in article لأك;)] derived from أَلُوكٌ; (Msb, K, TA; [but in the CK is a mistake here, pointed out above, voce أَلُوكٌ;]) so that the measure of مَلَكٌ is مَعَلٌ: (Msb:) مَلَكٌ is both singular and plural: Ks says that it is originally مَأْلَكٌ, from أَلُوكٌ signifying “a message;” then, by transposition, مَلْأَكٌ, a form also in use; and then, in consequence of frequency of usage, the hemzeh is suppressed, so that it becomes مَلَكٌ; but in forming the plural, they restore it to مَلْأَكٌ, saying مَلَايءِكَةٌ, and مَلَايءِكُ also: (S in article ملك:) or, according to some, it is from لَأَكَ “he sent;” so that the measure of مَلَكٌ is مَفَلٌ: and there are other opinions respecting it: (Msb:) some say that its م is a radical: see article ملك. (TA in article لأك.)