قِسْطٌ

Equity; justice: (S, * M, Mgh, Msb, K: *) [a verbal noun having no proper verb, or] a subst. from أَقْسَطَ. (Mgh, Msb.)

Equitable; just: (S, * M, K:) a verbal noun used as an epithet, like its synonym عَدْلٌ; (M, K;) and [therefore] applied alike to a singular n. [and to a dual] and to a plural: (K:) you say مِيزَانٌ قِسْطٌ an equitable, or a just, balance; and مِيزَانَانِ قِسْطٌ; and, agreeably with the usage of the Qur'an, 21:48, مَوَازِينُ قِسْطٌ. (M.)

A portion, share, or lot; (S, M, Msb, K;) of a thing; (K;) and pertaining to a person: (TA:) plural أَقْسَاطٌ. (Msb.) You say, وَفَّاهُ قِسْطَهُ He gave him in full his portion, share, or lot. (TA.) And أَخَذَ كُلٌّ مِنَ الشُّرَكَاءِ قِسْطَهُ Every one of the partners took his portion, or share. (TA.)

A portion, or piece. (So according to an explanation of the plural, أَقْسَاطٌ, in the TA.)

The means of subsistence: (K:) or the portion thereof which is the share of every created being. (TA.) يَخْفِضُ القِسْطَ وَيَرْفَعُهُ, said of God, in a tradition, has been explained as meaning He maketh the portion of the means of subsistence which is the share of any created being little, and maketh it much. (TA.) [See, below, another meaning which is assigned to it in this instance; and see also article خفض.]

A quantity, (K, TA,) of water only; or any quantity, of water and of other things. (TA.)

A measure with which corn is measured, (S, Mgh, K,) which holds (K) half of a صَاع; (S, Mgh, K;) six thereof making a فَرْقَ: (S:) according to Mbr, four hundred and eighty-one dirhems. (TA.) Sometimes it is used for performing the ablution termed وُضُوْء: and hence it is said in a tradition, إِنَّ النِّسَاءَ مِنْ أَسْفَهِ السُّفَهَاءِ إِلَّا صَاحِبَةَ القِسْطِ وَالسِّرَاجِ; (K;) the قِسْط being here the vessel in which the وضوء is performed; (TA;) the meaning apparently being, [Women are of the most lightwitted of the lightwitted,] except she who serves her husband, and assists him to perform the وضوء, [so I render تُوَضِّيءُهُ,] and takes care of the vessel which he uses for that purpose, and stands at his head with the lamp: (K:) or who performs his affairs with respect to his وضوء and his lamp. (Nh.)

A [mug of the kind called] كُوز; (M, K;) so called by the people of the great towns: (M:) now applied to one with which olive-oil is measured. (TA.)

A balance, or weighing-instrument. (K.) Some say that this is its meaning in the phrase mentioned above, يَخْفِضُ القِسْطَ وَيَرْفَعُهُ He depresseth the balance, and raiseth it: alluding to the means of subsistence which He decrees. (TA.)