حِلْفٌ

(assumed tropical:) A confederacy, league, compact, or covenant, (S, Msb, K,) between persons; (S, K;) as also حِلْفَةٌ: (Msb:) because it is not concluded, or ratified, but by swearing. (ISd, TA.)

(assumed tropical:) Friendship; or true, or sincere, friendship. (K.)

(tropical:) A confederate of another; one who unites in a confederacy, league, compact, or covenant; (TA;) as also حَلِيفٌ: (S, Msb, K, TA:) or a friend, or sincere friend, who swears to his companion that he will not act unfaithfully with him: (K:) or a friend, or true friend, is thus called because he so swears; as also حَلِيفٌ: (TA:) plural of the former أَحْلَافٌ; (S, * K;) and of the latter حُلَفَاءُ. (TA.) By the احلاف are meant, in a poem of Zuheyr, Asad and Ghatafán; because they united in a confederacy to aid each other; and the same appellation is applied to a party of Thakeef; (S, K;) and to six tribes of Kureysh, namely, 'Abd-ed-Dár, Kaab, Jumah, Sahm, Makhzoom, and 'Adee: (K:) and الحَلِيفَانِ to Benoo-Asad and Teiyi, (S, O, K,) or Asad and Ghatafán; (ISd, TA;) and Fezárah and Asad also (S, K) are termed حَلِيفَانِ. (S.)