خَلِيجٌ

A canal, or cut, from a large river; synonym شَرْمٌ مِنْ بَحْرٍ: (S, A, K:) what is cut off from the main mass of water; so called because it is drawn from it: (ISd, TA:) a river cut off from a larger river, extending to a place where use is made of it: a river on one side of a larger river: (TA:) and [simply] a river: (S, A, K:) and خَلِيجَا نَهْرٍ is said to signify the two sides of a river: (S:) or the two wings thereof: and some explain the singular (خليج) as meaning a branch from a valley, conveying its water to another place: (TA:) plural خُلْجَانٌ (A, TA) and خُلُجٌ. (TA.)