عِفَاءٌ

Such as is abundant of the plumage of the ostrich, (S, K,) and of the fur, or soft hair, of the camel, (S, and so in the K according to the TA,) and long and abundant hair: (K:) [see an example of the last meaning in a verse cited in article صب, conj. 6:] the n. of un. is with ة; but it is said that a single feather is not termed عِفَاءَةٌ unless it be [one of feathers that are] dense and abundant. (TA.) One says نَاقَةٌ ذَاتُ عِقَاءٍ [A she-camel having abundant far]. (S.)

عِقَاءُ السَّحَابِ means (assumed tropical:) What resembles nap, or pile, in the surface of the clouds, which [when they have this] scarcely ever, or never, break their promise of yielding rain. (TA.)