بَغِىٌّ

1.
, according to some, of the measure فَعِيلٌ; according to others, of the measure فَعُولٌ, originally بَغُوىٌ; [if of the former, originally meaning “ sought; ” and if of the latter, originally meaning “ seeking; ”] and therefore [in either case] not admitting the affix ة: (TA:) A fornicatress, an adulteress, or a prostitute; (JK, S, Mgh, Msb, K;) as also بَغُوٌّ [of the measure فَعُولٌ, and therefore anomalous, like نَهُوٌّ]: (M, K:) بَغِىٌّ is not applied to a man, (Lh, Msb,) nor بَغِيَّةٌ to a woman: (Lh, TA:) plural بَغَايَا. (S, Mgh, Msb.) [See an example voce مَهْرٌ.]
2.
Also A female slave, (JK, S, K,) whether she be a fornicatress or an adulteress or a prostitute or not; (TA;) not meant to imply revilement, though originally applied to female slaves because of their prostitution of themselves: (S:) or a free woman who is a fornicatress or an adulteress or a prostitute: so in the K: but correctly, or a fornicatress or an adulteress or a prostitute, whether free or a slave: (TA:) and a female singer, though chaste; because of fornication's being originally attributable to such a person: (Msb:) plural as above. (JK, S, TA.) One says, قَامَتْ عَلَى رُوءُسِهِمُ البَغَايَا [The female slaves stood over their heads]. (S.)
3.
بَغَايَا also signifies The scouts, or companies of scouts, that precede an army: (S, K, TA:) but the singular of this is بَغِيَّةٌ. (TA.)

Perseus ID: n2966