مِحْجَنٌ

Full Definition

مِحْجَنٌ A crooked, [or hooked,] or curved, staff or stick; as also مِحْجَنَةٌ : or a stick, or staff, or piece of wood, with a crooked, or hooked, head, or crooked at the end, like the صَوْلَجَان: one draws towards him with it the extremities [of the branches] of trees, and the like: or a stick with a crooked, or curved, end, being naturally so on the tree on which it has grown; distinguished from a صولجان, the end of which is crooked, or curved, artificially: or, accord. to AZ, any stick with a curved head: or it signifies also anything bent, or crooked: pl. مَحَاجِنُ. The appellation صَاحِبُ المِحْجَنِ [The owner of the crooked stick or staff] was given to a certain man who, in the Time of Ignorance, used to sit in the highway, and take with his محجن one thing after another, of the goods of the passers-by; and if any one were cognizant of his doing, he excused himself, saying that the thing had caught to his محجن. You say, فُلَانٌ لَا يَرْكُضُ المِحْجَنَ [lit. Such a one will not kick the crooked stick or staff], meaning such a one is of no use, or stands one in no stead: the saying originating from the fact that a محجن is put between the hind legs of the camel, and if he be inert, or wanting in vigour, he will not kick it; but if he be sharp in spirit, he will kick it and go on. And you say, إِنَّهُ لَمِحْجَنُ مَالٍ, meaning Verily he is one who puts the cattle into a good state, and pastures and manages them well. Also A brand, or mark made with a hot iron, upon a camel, in the form of a line with a crooked, or hooked, end, like the stick so called. (TA. [See also تَحْجِينٌ.])
2 And The [hooked] bill of a bird; because of its crookedness.

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