خَافٌ

A man very fearful or timorous; (S, K;) [and so, in the present day, ↓ خَوَّافٌ; the former originally] of the measure فَعِلٌ, like فَرِقٌ and فَزِعٌ; and similar to صَاتٌ, meaning a man “ having a strong, or loud, voice: ” (S:) or i. q. ↓ خَايءِفٌ: (TA:) according to Kh, it may be [originally خَاوِفٌ,] of the measure فَاعِلٌ, having the medial radical rejected; or [خَوْفٌ,] of the measure فَعْلٌ; and in either case, the diminutive is [↓ خُوَيْفٌ,] with و: so says Sb. (TA.)