Word Meaning
ज़नान
zanaan
Meaning
Women, females, ladies.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu, 'zanaan' is the plural of 'zan' (woman), meaning 'women' or 'ladies'. In this couplet, it specifically evokes the 'zanaan-e-Misr' (the women of Egypt) from the Quranic narrative who cut their hands in distraction upon witnessing the miraculous beauty of Yusuf (Joseph). Zulaikha rejoices that these women were equally captivated, thus justifying her own consuming passion.
Etymology
Persian, plural form of 'zan' (woman), rooted in Middle Persian 'zan' and ultimately Proto-Indo-European *gʷḗn.
Usage
In Urdu ghazal, it most frequently occurs in the Persian construct 'zanaan-e-Misr' as a classical poetic allusion (talmeeh) to the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha.
Examples
The women of Egypt were bewildered by Yusuf's beauty.
Noble women gathered in the grand court.