خَاطِفٌ

[act. particle n. of 1, Seizing, &c.]: plural خُطَّافٌ. (TA.)

الخَاطِفُ The wolf; (JK, S, K;) because he seizes, or carries off by force, his prey. (TA.)

خَاطِفُ ظِلِّهِ A certain bird, (JK, S, K,) said by Ibn-Selemeh to be called الرَّفْرَافُ; (S, [so in three copies, not رَقْرَاق as in Freytag's Lex.,] TA;) that sees its shadow, and thinks it to be a bird; (JK;) or when it sees its shadow in the water, it advances to it to seize it, (S, L, K,) thinking it to be a prey: (L, TA:) [see خَيَالٌ:] it is one of the birds of the deserts, and is [said to be] thus called because of the swiftness with which it pounces down; it is green, or of a dark, or an ashy, dust-colour, (أَخْضَرُ,) in the back; white in the belly; long in the wings, and short in the neck: (Msb in article لعب:) also called مُلَاعِبُ ظِلِّهِ. (S and Msb in that article)

بَرْقٌ خَاطِفٌ (tropical:) Lightning that takes away the sight. (JK, S, * TA. *)

سَهْمٌ خَاطِفٌ (assumed tropical:) An arrow that falls upon the ground, and then glides along upon the ground to the butt, or object of aim; as though snatching something from the ground: plural خَوَاطِفُ: (Ham p. 573:) or خَوَاطِفُ signifies arrows that miss; for مُخْطِفَاتٌ. (TA.)