مَرْعًى

a verbal noun of 1 [q. v.]. (S, K.)

And A pasturage, or place of pasture; (S, K;) as also ↓ مَرْعَاةٌ: (Sgh, K:) plural مَرَاعٍ. (TA.) [Hence,] فَإِنَّ لِكُلٍّ بُغَاةٌ ↓ لَا تَدَعَنَّ فَتَاةً وَلَا مَرْعَاةً [Do not thou leave uncared for a young woman nor a pasturage, for there are persons that seek, or endeavour, to find and get each]: a prov. enjoining the availing oneself of an opportunity, and the setting about an affair with prudence, discretion, precaution, or sound judgment. (Meyd.)

See also رِعْىٌ, in three places.