طَاغُوتٌ

is of the measure فَلَعُوتٌ, from طَغَوْتُ; (M, K;) formed by transposition, though like لَاهُوتٌ which is not so formed: (S:) it is originally of the measure فَعَلُوتٌ, which is changed to فَلَعُوتٌ, so that it becomes طَوَغُوتٌ, and this is then altered to طَاغُوتٌ: (Msb, TA:) it is held to be altered from طَوَغُوت rather than from طَغَيُوت because the transposition of و is more common than that of ى, as in شَاكٍ &c.: (M, TA:) or, as some say, the ت is a substitute for و, and the measure is فَاعُولٌ: and some say that the measure is فَاعَلُوتٌ, and that it is originally طَاغَيُوتٌ: (TA:) the plural is طَوَاغِيتُ (S, K) and طَوَاغٍ, (K,) the latter mentioned by ISd. (TA.) It signifies A devil; (S, Msb, K, TA;) thus explained by Abu-l- 'Áliyeh and others, and said to be on the authority of 'Omar: (TA:) or one that is exorbitant in pride or corruptness or disbelief or disobedience, of the jinn, or genii: (Er-Rághib, TA:) or الطَّاغُوتُ means [the idol called] اللَّات and [that called] العُزَّى; (K;) or thus some explained الجِبْت and الطَّاغُوت [together, in the Qur'an, 4:54: (TA:) or whatever is worshipped instead, or to the exclusion, of God; (Zj, K, TA;) as also الجِبْتُ: (Zj, TA:) and the idols [in general]: (K:) or it is of the idols, and of the jinn, or genii, and of mankind: (Akh, TA:) or he who turns from the good way: (Er-Rághib, TA:) and the diviner: (S, K, TA:) and the enchanter: thus explained by 'Ikrimeh; and said to mean thus in the Qur'an, 4:63: and so الجِبْتُ according to Zj: (TA:) and any head, or leader, of error: (S, K:) and the exorbitant in pride or corruptness or disbelief or disobedience, of the people of the Scripture: (K:) it is used as a singular, (S, K,) as in the Qur'an, 4:63; (S;) and as a plural, (S, K,) as in the Qur'an, 2:259; (S;) and masculine and feminine, (Msb, TA,) as feminine in the Qur'an, 39:19: (TA:) or by الجِبْت is meant Hoyeí Ibn-Akhtab; and by الطَّاغُوت, Kaab Ibn-ElAshraf: (I'Ab, K:) and [the pls.] طَوَاغِيتُ and طَوَاغٍ signify [sometimes] idol temples: so says El-Háfidh in the preface to the “ Fet-h ” [i. e. his celebrated work entitled “ Fet-h el-Bári ”]. (TA.)