رِفَادَةٌ

[A kind of pad, or stuffed thing, beneath a saddle;] a thing like the جَدْيَة of a horse's saddle, (S, Mgh, K,) for a beast: (K:) a support for the saddle of a horse or camel &c.: (M, L:) it is put beneath a horse's saddle in order that it may become raised thereby. (Lth, T.)

A piece of rag with which a wound, (S, K,) &c., (S,) is furnished as a compress (يُرْفَدُ بِهَا). (S, K.)

A contribution which the tribe of Kureysh made among themselves in the Time of Ignorance, for the purpose of purchasing for the pilgrims wheat, and raisins (S, M, K) for [the beverage called] نَبِيذ: (S, M:) each gave according to his ability, and thus they collected a great sum, in the days of the assembling of the pilgrims; and they continued to feed the people until the end of those days: (M:) the رِفَادَة and سِقَايَة [i. e. the supplying these provisions and this beverage] pertained to the Benoo-Háshim; and the سِدَانَة [or service of the Kaabeh], and the لِوَاء [or banner], to the Benoo-'Abd-ed-Dár: (S:) the term رِفَادَةٌ used in relation to the feeding of the pilgrims is from رَفَدَهُ signifying “ he aided him by a gift ” &c.: (Mgh:) the first who performed this custom was Háshim Ibn-'Abd-Menáf. (T.)

One says also, هُوَ رِفَادَةُ صِدْقٍ لِى and صِدْقٍ ↓ رَفِيدَةُ, meaning (tropical:) [He is an excellent] aider, or helper, or assistant, to me. (A.)