مَعْقِلٌ
1.
A place to which one betakes himself for refuge, protection, preservation, covert, or lodging; synonym مَلْجَأٌ; (S, Mgh, O, Msb, K;) as also
عَقْلٌ, (S, O, K,) of which the plural is عُقُولٌ: (S, O:) but Az says that he had not heard عَقْل in this sense on any authority except that of Lth; and held العُقُولُ, which is cited as an example of its plural, to signify “ the protecting oneself in a mountain: ” (TA:) and مَعْقِلٌ signifies also a fortress; [like as عَقْلٌ is said to do;] synonym حِصْنٌ: (Mgh:) the plural is مَعَاقِلُ. (TA.) Hence one says, using it metaphorically, هُوَ مَعْقِلُ قَوْمِهِ (tropical:) He is the refuge of his people: and the kings of Himyer are termed in a tradition مَعَاقِلُ الأَرْضِ, meaning The fortresses [or refuges] of the land. (TA.)
2.
[It is perhaps primarily used in relation to camels; for] مَعَاقِلُ الإِبِلِ means The places in which the camels are bound with the rope called
عِقَال. (TA.)