سَعَفٌ

Palm-branches, (Az, * S, Msb, K,) as long as they have the leaves upon them: when these are removed from them, called جَرِيدٌ: (Msb:) or the part [or parts] of palm-branches upon which leaves have grown: (S voce عَسِيبٌ:) or the leaves of palm-branches, (Mgh, K, TA,) of which are woven [baskets of the kind called] زُبُل (Mgh) or زُبْلَان (TA) [pls. of زَبِيلٌ], and [the similar receptacles called] جِلَال [plural of جُلَّةٌ], (TA,) and fans [which are made in the form of small flags], (Mgh, TA,) and the like: (TA:) and sometimes palm-branches themselves are thus called: (Mgh:) according to Lth, (Mgh, TA,) such as have become dry [of palm-branches] are mostly thus called; the fresh [palm-branch] being called شَطْبَةٌ: (Mgh, K, TA:) singular, (S,) or [rather] n. un., (Mgh, Msb,) with ة: (S, Mgh, Msb:) which also signifies a palm-tree itself; and its plural is سَعَفَاتٌ. (TA.)

[Hence, as being likened to palm-leaves,] The forelock of a horse: so in the saying of Imrael-Keys,

وَأَرْكَبُ فِى الرَّوْعِ خَيْفَانَةً

كَسَا وَجْهَهَا سَعَفٌ مُنْتَشِرْ

[And I ride, in war, or battle, a brisk, or an agile, leaving mare, whose face a spreading forelock has clad]: which shows that سَعَفٌ [properly] signifies the leaves [of a palm-branch]. (Az, TA.) [Jac. Schultens, as mentioned by Freytag, explains it as meaning A whiteness upon the forehead of a horse: but this explanation is perhaps conjectural, from the verse cited above.]

The paraphernalia (جَهَاز) of a bride: plural سُعُوفٌ. (IAar, K.)

Anything good, goodly, or excel-lent, and consummate, such as a slave, or any precious thing, or a house that one possesses. (IAar, K.)

A species of fly: mentioned by a poet as smiting a lion. (IB, TA.)