Word Meaning
ख़ुश्क-लबी
khushk-labī
Meaning
Dryness or parchedness of the lips; extreme thirst or grief.
Detailed Meaning
A Persian compound denoting parchedness or dryness of the lips, often brought on by thirst, sorrow, or physical weakness. In the provided couplet, Mir presents a vivid aesthetic contrast between the beloved's parched lips ('khushk-labī') and the water-colored robe ('jāmā... ābī'). In classical poetry, it often evokes the agony of intense longing, ascetic endurance, or the martyrdom of Karbala.
Etymology
Persian: composed of 'khushk' (dry) + 'lab' (lip) + noun-forming abstract suffix '-ī'.
Usage
Commonly employed in the ghazal to express unquenched longing, lover's deprivation, or the asceticism of endurance.
Examples
His dry lips told the tale of a long wander in the desert.
Tears washed the face, yet the dryness of the lips remained.