عَطُوفٌ
1.
, applied to a bow: see مُعَطَّفَةٌ.
2.
Applied to a gaming-arrow, (O, K,) of those used in the game called المَيْسِر, (O,) as also
عَطَّافٌ, That inclines towards, or upon, the other arrows [in the receptacle called the
رِبَابَة], and comes forth winning, or before the others: [apparently because it is the first upon which the hand falls:] (O, K:) an example of the former occurs in a verse of Sakhr-el-Gheí cited in article خض: (O, TA:) [in the TA, in article خوض, it is explained as meaning, in that verse, a borrowed arrow, in the luck of which one has confidence:] or the former, according to El-Kutabee, (O,) or each, (K,) signifies the arrow to which is assigned no fine and no gain; (O, K;) it is one of the three
أَغْفَال; and is called عطوف because it returns into every رِبَابَة with which one plays; and El-Kutabee says that قِدْحًا عَطُوفَا in the verse of Sakhr is a singular in a plural sense: (O:) or, (O, K,) according to Skr, (O,) عَطُوفٌ signifies that comes [forth] (يَرِدُ, so in the O, in the copies of the K يُرَدُّ, [which would make this explanation virtually the same as the one immediately following it,]) time after time: or that is repeated, [i. e. repeatedly put into the
رِبَابَة
and drawn forth from it,] time after time: and
عَطَّافٌ signifies a gaming arrow that turns aside from the places whence the [other] arrows are taken (عَنْ مَاخِذِ
القِدَاحِ [for which the CK has على مأخَذِ القِداحِ]), and becomes alone, by itself. (O, K.)
3.
Also عَطُوفٌ, (assumed tropical:) One much inclined to favour; or to be affectionate, or kind; and to show mercy or pity or compassion. (O.) (assumed tropical:) A bestower of favour, or bounty; good in disposition; as also
عَاطِفٌ; (TA;) of both of which عُطْفٌ is plural; (K, TA;) and
عَطَّافٌ also has this meaning, applied to a man: (Lth, TA:) and also this last, and عَطُوفٌ, (assumed tropical:) a man who protects, or defends, those who are defeated, or put to flight. (TA.) And (assumed tropical:) A woman loving to her husband, affectionate to her child or children. (TA.) And (assumed tropical:) A she-camel that is made to incline to, or affect, (S, O,) or that inclines to, or affects, (so in the copies of the K,) the stuffed skin of a young unweaned camel, [when her young one has died,] and that keeps, or cleaves, to it: (S, O, K:) plural عُطُفٌ. (TA. [See 1, near the end.])