نیفه

Persian

Etymology

From Middle Persian, whence also Arabic نَيْفَق (nayfaq), related to نافه (nâfa, “musk bag, gland of the musk deer”), ناف (nâf, “navel”). The meaning development is “musk bag”, “drawstring bag”, “any such fastening”, “particularly such at trousers”.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [neː.fa]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [neː.fä]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [neː.fä]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [neː.fä]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [neː.fä]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [niː.fe]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [ne.fä]

Readings
Classical reading?	nēfa
Dari reading?	nēfa
Iranian reading?	nife
Tajik reading?	nefa

Noun

نیفه • (nêfa)

1. the top middle area of a pair of trousers or drawers where a cord goes through to support the two legs, waistband or a certain part thereof

   Synonym: نیدفه (naydafa)

2. the cord itself, thong, strap
3. (obsolete) hide of a dead animal, particularly belly-skin
4. (obsolete) a square wrapper in which wearing-apparel is folded up
5. (obsolete) fox

Descendants

• → Punjabi: ਨੇਫ਼ਾ (nefā)

References

• Monchi-Zadeh, Davoud (1990) Wörter aus Xurāsān und ihre Herkunft (Acta Iranica; 29)‎^[1] (in German), Leiden: E. J. Brill, page 117 Nr. 342
• Steingass, Francis Joseph (1892) “نیفه”, in A Comprehensive Persian–English dictionary, London: Routledge & K. Paul
• Vullers, Johann August (1856–1864) “نیفه”, in Lexicon Persico-Latinum etymologicum cum linguis maxime cognatis Sanscrita et Zendica et Pehlevica comparatum, e lexicis persice scriptis Borhâni Qâtiu, Haft Qulzum et Bahâri agam et persico-turcico Farhangi-Shuûrî confectum, adhibitis etiam Castelli, Meninski, Richardson et aliorum operibus et auctoritate scriptorum Persicorum adauctum‎^[2] (in Latin), volume II, Gießen: J. Ricker, page 1389