زَبَانِيَةٌ
1.
is a plural, of which the singular is
زِبْنِيَةٌ, (Akh, Zj, S, K,) as some say, or
زَبَانٍ, (Akh, S,) or
زُبَانَى, like سُكَارَى, (TA,) or
زَابِنٌ, (Akh, S,) or
رِبْنِىٌّ, (Ks, K,) the plural of this last being originally زَبَانِىُّ, the ة [in زَبَانِيَةٌ] being substituted for the [last] ى: (Bd in xcvi. 18:) but the Arabs hardly, or in nowise, know this [attribution of a singular to زَبَانِيَةٌ], holding it to be a plural having no singular, like أَبَابِيلُ and عَبَادِيدُ. (Akh, S.) With the Arabs [of the classical age] it signifies The شُرَط [apparently in the earlier sense of the braves of an army, or in the later sense of the armed attendants, officers, or soldiers, of the prefect of the police]: (S:) this is the primary signification: (Bd in xcvi. 18:) the singular being synonym with
شُرْطِىٌّ: and also signifying the مُتَمَرِّد [i. e. one who exalts himself, or is insolent and audacious, in pride and in acts of rebellion or disobedience, &c.,] of the jinn, or genii, and of mankind: (K:) and i. q.
شَدِيدٌ [i. e. strong, &c.]: (Secr, K:) each of these two significations [and the first also] being from the meaning of “ pushing, ” or “ thrusting. ” (TA.)
2.
الزَّبَانِيَةُ signifies also Certain angels, [the tormentors of the damned in Hell,] so called because of their thrusting the people of the fire thereto; (Katádeh, S, Msb; *) the angels mentioned in the Qur'an, 66:6 as غِلَاظٌ شِدَادٌ, (Zj,) i. e. rough in speech or in disposition, strong in deeds or in make. (Bd.)