خَلِفٌ

, applied to she-camels, i. q. مَخَاضٌ, i. e. Pregnant: n. un. with ة: (S, K:) according to some, (TA,) the plural of خَلِفَةٌ, which signifies a pregnant camel, (Mgh, Msb, TA,) or, as some say, one that has completed a year after bringing forth and has then been covered and has conceived, until she enters upon the term called التَّعْشِير, (TA, [from-the time when her pregnancy has become manifest, (see قَارِحٌ and لَاقِحٌ,)] is مَخَاضٌ, (Mgh, Msb, TA,) like as the plural of اِمْرَأَةٌ is نِسَاءٌ; (Msb, TA;) and sometimes خَلِفَاتٌ (Mgh, Msb, TA) and خِلَافٌ: (TA:) but خَلِفٌ occurs in the saying of the rájiz,

مَا لَكَ تَرْغِينَ وَلَا تَرْغُوا الخَلِفْ

[What aileth thee that thou utterest a grumbling cry, when the pregnant camels utter not that cry?]. (IB.)