Word Meaning
टहनी
tahnī
hinoun
Meaning
A small, slender branch or twig of a tree or bush.
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu and Hindi poetry, tahni signifies a twig or branch of a plant. In this couplet, it represents the withered, yellowed branches of autumn that the poet ingeniously compares to boughs of saffron (shaakh-e-za'faraan). It serves as a natural symbol around which themes of autumn, endurance, and transformation unfold.
Etymology
Derived from Hindustani / Deshaj origins; cognate with Sanskrit roots related to plant shoots and branches.
Usage
In classical ghazal imagery, it frequently features in relation to the nest (aashiyana), the hunter/cage, or the onset of autumn (khizaan).
Examples
a bird singing upon a slender twig
the withered twig trembling in the autumn wind
Synonyms
शाख़डालशाख़चा
Related Words
डालशाख़पत्तादरख़्त