Word Meaning
दुज़दी
duzdi
Meaning
Theft, stealing, robbery, or surreptitious act.
Detailed Meaning
In classical Persian and Urdu poetry, 'duzdi' signifies theft or the act of purloining covertly. In Ghalib's verse, 'duzdi-e-zakhm' metaphorically refers to the 'theft of wounds'—a surreptitious desire of every thorn to inflict and claim injuries from the lover's vulnerable foot. The poet illustrates an extreme eagerness for pain, where wounds are seen as valuable treasures subject to theft.
Etymology
Persian, derived from 'duzd' (thief) with the abstract noun suffix '-i' (duzdi = theft).
Usage
In ghazal aesthetics, 'duzdi' often appears in izafat constructions (like 'duzdi-e-nazar' or 'duzdi-e-bosa') to describe covert, stealthy, or illicit lover-like actions.
Examples
sar-e-duzdi-e-zakhm (an intent or inclination toward stealing wounds)
duzdi-e-nazar (the stealthy stealing of glances)