حَافَةٌ

A side of anything; originally حَوَفَةٌ; (Msb;) and so ↓ حَوْفٌ: (TA:) حَافَتَانِ signifying the two sides of a valley (S, Msb, K) &c.; (K;) i. e., of any other thing: (TA:) plural حَافَاتٌ (Msb, K) and حِيْفٌ, which is irregular, and حِيَفٌ, which is regular, and حَوَايءِفُ; which is extr., like حَوَايءِجُ, and changed by transposition to حَوَافٍ, (TA in article حيف,) and [coll. gen. n.] ↓ حَافٌ. (Ham p. 159.) It is said in a tradition, عَلَيْكُنَّ بِحَافَاتِ الطَّرِيقِ [Keep ye (O women) to the sides of the road]. (TA.)

Also, of the دَوَايءِس [or bulls or cows that tread wheat or other grain] (K, TA) in the كُدْس [or wheat &c. collected together in the place where it is trodden out], (TA,) Such as is, or are, at the extremity, exceeding the others in going round. (K, TA.)

-A2- Want: (K:) and hardness, or difficulty, of life; (K, TA;) as also ↓ حَوْفٌ. (TA.)