لَا اتِيكَ مَا غَبَا غُبَيْسٌ

means I will not come to thee ever: (S, K:) but the origin of this saying is unknown: (K:) IAar said that he knew it not: (S:) or, according to him, it means, while time lasts: it seems that he did not know it at first, and then thus explained it: (T, TA:) according to some, غُبَيْسٌ is an abbreviated diminutive of أَغْبَسُ, and means the wolf; (S, K; *) and غَبَا is originally غَبَّ, the ا being substituted for one of the letters of duplication, as in تَقَضَّى for تَقَضَّضَ; (S;) and the saying means I will not come to thee as long as the wolf comes now and then (يَأْتِى غِبًّا) to the sheep or goats. (S, K. *)