الَةٌ
1.
i. q.
أَدَاةٌ [i. e. An instrument; a tool; an implement; a utensil: and instruments; tools; implements; utensils; apparatus; equipments; equipage; accoutrements; furniture; gear; tackling;] (S, M, K) with which one works, for himself or for another: it is both singular and plural: (M, K:) or, (K,) as some say, (M,) it is a plural having no singular (M, K) as to the letter: (M:) [but it is very often used as a singular:] and the plural is الَاتٌ. (S, K.) In the saying of 'Alee, يَسْتَعْمِلُ
الَةَ الدِّينِ فِى طَلَبِ الدُّنيَا [lit. He makes use of the instrument of religion in seeking the goods of the present world], (assumed tropical:) science, or knowledge, is meant; because thereby only is religion. (M.)
2.
[A musical instrument;] a lute; a musical reed, or pipe; the [kind of mandoline called] طُنْبُور. (TA.)
3.
The male organ of generation. (TA.)
4.
The bier of a corpse. (Abu-l-'Omeythil, S, M, K.) Thus, according to some, in the following verse, (S, * M,) of Kaab Ibn-Zuheyr:
[Every son of a female, though his health, or safety, long continue, is one day borne upon a gibbous bier: for the bier of the Arabs of the desert was generally composed of two poles connected by a net-work of cords upon which the corpse lay depressed]: (S, M:) or, as some say, [in a distressing state, or condition; for, they say,] الَة here signifies حَلَة. (TA.)كُلُّ ابْنِ أُنْثَى وَإِنْ طَالتْ سَلَامَتُهُيَوْمًا عَلَى الَةٍ حَدْبَاءَ مَحْمُولُ
5.
See also الٌ, in two places, near the middle of the paragraph.
6.