رَافِدَةٌ

a word of the measure فَاعِلَةٌ [apparently as meaning A thing that aids, helps, or assists,] from الرَّفْدُ signifying “ the act of aiding, helping, or assisting. ” (TA.) رَوَافِدُ [is its plural, and] signifies The rafters, or beams, or timbers, (خَشَب, S, Mgh, K, or خُشُب, M,) of a roof, (IAar, S, M, Mgh, K,) over which are laid [planks, or only] the bundles of reeds, or canes, called حَرَادِىّ; (IAar, L in article حرد;) as also رَافِدَاتٌ. (S, M.) A poet says, (describing a house, S in article بخ,)

رَوَافِدُهُ أَكْرَمُ الرَّافِدَاتِ

[Its rafters are the most excellent of rafters]. (S, M.)