زِمَامٌ

1.
A thing with which one ties or binds, fastens, or makes fast: (K:) meaning [the noserein of a camel; i. e.] the cord that is tied to the بُرَة [or خِزَام, each meaning nose-ring of a camel], or to the خِشَاش [or wooden thing fixed in the bone of the nose], and to which, (S, Mgh, Msb, TA,) i. e. to the end of which, (S, TA,) is tied the مِقْوَد [or leading-rope]: (S, Mgh, Msb, TA:) and (afterwards, Msb) also applied to the مِقَوْد (S, Msb, TA) itself: (Msb:) plural أَزِمَّةٌ. (Msb, K.) [See also خِطَامٌ.] It is said in a tradition, لَا زِمَامَ وَلَا خِزَامَ فِى الإِسْلَامِ [There shall be no nose-rein nor nosering by which to lead a man in El-Islám]: meaning a practice of the devotees of the Children of Israel, who used to attach rings and reins to the noses, like as is done to the she-camel in order that she may be led thereby. (TA.)
2.
[Hence,] زِمَامُ الأَمْرِ (assumed tropical:) That by means of which the thing, or affair, subsists, and is conducted, or managed, and ordered. (TA.) And أَلْقَى فِى يَدِهِ زِمَامَ أَمْرِهِ (assumed tropical:) [He put in his hand, or power, the means of conducting his affair, or the conduct of his affair]: and يُصَّرِفُ أَزِمَّةَ الأُمُورِ (assumed tropical:) [He disposes as he pleases the various means of conducting the affairs]. (TA.) And هُوَ عَلَى زِمَامٍ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ (assumed tropical:) He is on the point of accomplishing his affair. (TA.) And النَّاقَةُ زِمَامُ الإِبِلِ (assumed tropical:) [The she-camel is the leader of the other camels]: said when she goes before them. (TA.) And هُوَ زِمَامُ قَوْمِهِ (assumed tropical:) [He is the leader of his people, or party]: and هُمْ أَزِمَّةٌ قَوْمِهِمْ (assumed tropical:) [They are the leaders of their people, or party]. (TA.) [See also De Sacy's Chrest. Arabe, sec. ed., i. 261 and 503; and see Quatremère's Hist. des Sultans Mamlouks, vol. i., sec. part, pp. 65 and 66.]
3.
زِمَامُ النَّعْلِ (assumed tropical:) [The زمام of the sandal] is the thing to which the شِسْع is attached, or tied: (S:) or the thong that is between the middle toe and that next to it, to which the شِسْع is attached, or tied: [but for the latter of these explanations, it seems that we should read the thong that is between the middle toe and that next to it: or the thong to which the شِسْع is attached, or tied: the شِسْع being the thong that passes through the sole, and between two of the toes, and to which the شِرَاك is attached: for it appears that the term زِمَام is applied by some to the thong called by others the شِرَاك, extending between the leg and the toes: and by some, to what is called by others the شِسْع, or قِبَال: to the latter as being likened to the cord that is tied to the camel's nose-ring; and to the former as being likened to the leading-rope which is tied to that cord: it being] a metaphorical term, from the زِمَام of the camel: (Mgh:) it is [said to be] the thong lies upon the back [meaning upper side] of the foot, [extending] from, or [consisting] of, the fore part of the شِرَاك, lengthwise: [for the term شِرَاك (q. v.) is sometimes used in a larger sense than that above assigned to it:] or it is like the قِبَال, [which is explained in the same manner as the شِسْع, i. e., as] being between the middle toe and that next to it: (Har p. 539:) [and thus it is explained by J and Mtr and F in another article;] the قِبَال of the sandal is its زِمَام, (S, and Mgh and K in article قبل,) i. e. its thong which is (Mgh in that article) between the middle toe and next to it. (S and Mgh and K in that article)

Perseus ID: n18066