زَحْفٌ
1.
An army, or a military force, marching by little and little, or leisurely, to, or towards, the enemy, (S, A, K, TA,) or heavily, by reason of their multitude and force: (A, TA:) or a numerous army or military force; a verbal noun used as a subst.; (Mgh, Msb;) because, by reason of its multitude, and heaviness of motion, it is as though it crept, or crawled, along: (Mgh:) according to Az, from زَحَفَ عَلَى اسْتِهِ, said of a child: (TA:) not applied to a single individual: (IKoot, Msb:) plural زُحُوفٌ. (Msb, TA.)
2.
And hence, as being likened thereto, (tropical:) A swarm of locusts. (TA.)
3.
فَرَّ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ, occurring in a tradition, means He fled from war with unbelievers; and from encountering the enemy in war. (TA.)
4.
إِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا زَحْفًا, in the Qur'an, 8:15, means, according to Zj, زَاحِفِينَ, i. e. [When ye meet those who have disbelieved] marching by little and little [in consequence of their great number, to attack you]. (TA.)