Word Meaning
क़ता
qit'a
Meaning
A piece, segment, portion, or plot (especially of land).
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu, 'qit'a' primarily signifies a cut piece, fragment, or detached portion. In this couplet by Mir, it appears in the construct 'qita-e-zameen' (a plot or piece of earth), expressing the tragic lament that under the whole vault of heaven there is not even a small patch of ground where the poet might find peace. Beyond this literal sense, the word also famously refers to a distinct poetic form or independent stanza in Urdu verse.
Etymology
Arabic qit'ah (قِطْعَة), from the root q-t-' (ق-ط-ع) meaning 'to cut' or 'sever'.
Usage
In ghazal poetry, 'qita' often conveys either a literal piece of ground or sanctuary (frequently contrasted with exile or homelessness) or denotes a self-contained poetic unit within the ghazal.
Examples
ik qit'a-e-chaman bhi na chhoota qafas ke baad
qit'a-e-zameen-e-shauq