Word Meaning
चाँदनी
chāñdnī
hinoun, feminine
Meaning
Moonlight; also a white floorcloth spread across carpets.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Urdu poetry, 'chandni' literally refers to moonlight, but it is also a technical term for the fine white sheet spread over rugs and carpets in traditional gatherings. In this couplet, it carries a masterful double meaning (īhām): the beloved's radiant splendour serves as the luminous floor-covering of the room, rendering the moon's own light as feeble as a spider's web.
Etymology
Sanskrit candrikā (चन्द्रिका) via Prakrit to Hindi/Urdu.
Usage
Poets frequently employ it as a pun playing on luminous moonlight and a traditional white floor covering.
Examples
A night bathed in soft moonlight
A spotless white floorcloth spread in the hall
Synonyms
नूरज़ियाउजाला
Related Words
चाँदमहताबफ़र्शचादर