مدفع

Arabic

Etymology 1

Tool noun from the root د ف ع (d-f-ʕ); literally an instrument that propels or impels, occurring in the determined sense of a cannon first in the 14^th in Mamluk-ruled Egypt.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mid.faʕ/
  • (Egyptian) IPA^(key): /ˈmad.faʕ/
  • (Moroccan) IPA^(key): /mad.faʕ/
  • (Palestinian) IPA^(key): /ˈmad.faʕ/

Noun

مِدْفَع • (midfaʕ) m (plural مَدَافِع (madāfiʕ))

1. gun; cannon

Declension

Descendants

• → Amharic: መድፍ (mädf)
• → Ge'ez: መድፍዕ (mädfəʿ)
• → Persian: مدفع (madfa')
• → Tigrinya: መድፍዕ (mädfəʿ)

Etymology 2

Noun of place from the root د ف ع (d-f-ʕ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mad.faʕ/

Noun

مَدْفَع • (madfaʕ) m (plural مَدَافِع (madāfiʕ))

1. watercourse, the lowest part of a valley where the torrent pours forth
   • a. 622, لَبيد بن ربيعة , معلقة , line 2a:

     ١ عَفَتِ الدِّيارُ مَحَلُّهَا فَمُقَامُهَا * بمنًى تأبَّدَ غَوْلُها فَرِجَامُهَا
     ٢ فمَدافعُ الرَّيَّانِ عُرِّيَ رَسْمُهَا * خَلَقًا كما ضَمِنَ الوُحِيَّ سِلاَمُها
     ٣ دِمَنٌ تَجَرَّمَ بَعدَ عَهْدِ أنِيسِهَا * حِجَجٌ خَلَوْنَ حَلالُهَا وحَرَامُهَا
     ٤ رُزِقَتْ مَرابيعَ النُّجُومِ وَصَابَهَا * وَدْقُ الرَّوَاعِدِ جَوْدُهَا فَرِهَامُها
     ٥ مِنْ كلِّ سَارِيَةٍ وغادٍ مُدْجِنٍ * وَعَشِيَّةٍ مُتجاوبٍ إرْزَامُهَا
     ٦ فَعَلا فُرُوعُ الأيْهُقَانِ وَأطْفَلَتْ * بالجَلهَتين ظِبَاؤهَا ونَعَامُهَا

     Effaced are her resting-places where she stayed and settled in Mina: deserted are her camps in Ḡawl and ar-Rijām
     and the torrents of ar-Rayyān: the traces thereof are laid bare and are torn, as inscribed rocks.
     Campsites have already passed after their period of use; years of war and peace overcome.
     Cast off there fell upon them the rains of spring signs, and there swept sated thunder clouds and drizzling rains
     from every cloud of night, every full one of morn, and those of eve, answering like a hoting squawk,
     and there sprung shoots of arugula, and in the brinks of a valley the goats and antelopes have youngs.

2. (rare) verbal noun of دَفَعَ (dafaʕa) (form I)
3. means of defense, pleading in court etc.

Declension

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology

From Arabic مِدْفَع (midfaʕ).

Noun

مدفع • (madfaʕ) m (plural مدافع (madāfeʕ))

1. cannon