ثِمَالٌ

An aider, or a succourer, who undertakes, or manages, the affairs, of his party, kinsfolk, or tribe: (T, S, K:) their stay, or support: (M:) the aider, or succourer, of orphans: (Lh, M:) a refuge, or protector. (Mgh. [See also مَثْمِلٌ.]) Hence, (Mgh,)

ثِمَالُ اليَتَامَى عِصْمَةٌ لِلْأَرَامِلِ

[The aider, &c., or the stay, or support, or the refuge, of the orphans; a defence to the widows]; (Mgh, TA;) said by Aboo-Tálib, in praising Mohammad. (TA.) [See also another example in a verse cited voce أَنْ.]