بُرْجٌ

[Gr. πύργος, (Golius,) A tower;] an angle, synonym رُكْن, (S, K,) of a fortress, (S,) or of a city: (TA:) and sometimes a fortress itself: (S, K:) so called from its conspicuousness and construction and height: (TA: [see 1:]) or the primary signification of برج is strength; whence أَبْرَجُ in a sense explained below: (Har p. 286:) plural [of mult.] بُرُوجٌ and [of pauc.] أَبْرَاجٌ: (S:) the بُرُوجٌ of the wall of a city or fortress are chambers (بُيُوت [meaning towers]) built upon the wall: and such chambers (بيوت) built upon the sides of the angles of a قَصْر [i. e. pavilion or palace &c.] are sometimes thus called. (Lth.) [Hence,] بُرْجُ حَمَامٍ [A pigeon-turret; a pigeon-house; being generally constructed in the form of a turret, or of a sugar-loaf;] a lodging-place of pigeons: plural as above. (Msb.)

Also (assumed tropical:) [A sign of the Zodiac;] one of the بُرُوج of the heaven; (S, K;) which are twelve in number; every one having a distinct name: (TA:) the Arabs in ancient times did not know them: (Ham p. 560:) plural أَبْرَاجٌ as well as بُرُوجٌ: (Msb, TA:) these are meant by the بُرُوج mentioned in the Qur'an, 15:16 and xxv. 62 and lxxxv. 1: (Bd, Jel:) or in the last of these instances, (Bd,) by the بروج in the heaven are meant the Mansions of the Moon: (Bd, Msb:) or the stars or asterisms or constellations: (TA:) or the great stars or asterisms or constellations; (Bd, Msb;) and so, according to Zj, in the second of the said passages of the Qur'an: (TA:) or the gates of heaven: (Bd, Msb:) or, as some say, i. q. قُصُور [i. e. pavilions &c.]. (TA.)