غَايءِصٌ

One who dives in, or descends beneath, or enters into, water; as also ↓ غَوَّاصٌ [which, however, has an intensive signification, or implies the habit of so doing]: (TA:) and ↓ the latter, (S, A, K,) or both, (Az, TA,) particularly one who dives in the sea for pearls, (S, A, K,) or for pearl-shells, and fetches them out: (Az, TA:) plural غُوَّاصٌ, (A, TA,) of the former, (TA,) and غَاصَةٌ, (A, TA,) [also of the former,] and [of the latter] غَوَّاصُونَ. (TA.)

[Hence the saying,] هَوَ مِنْ صَاغَةِ الفِقَرِ وَغَاصَةِ الدُّرَرِ (tropical:) [He is of the moulders of فِقَر, lit., as thus used, ornaments fashioned in the form of the vertebræ of the back, but here meaning choice phrases or sentences; and of the divers for, and producers of, (expressions like) pearls, or large pearls]. (A, TA.)

[Hence likewise,] ↓ غَوَّاصٌ also signifies (tropical:) One who exercises art, craft, cunning, or skill, in ordering the means of obtaining subsistence. (TA.)

And غَايءِصٌ also signifies One who pounces, or comes suddenly, or at unawares, upon a thing; (JK, S, Msb;) as also, (JK, Msb,) but in an intensive sense, (Msb,) ↓ غَوَّاصٌ: (JK, Msb:) plural of the former غَاصَةٌ. (Msb.)