Word Meaning
नौ-ख़त
nau-khat
hiadjective
Meaning
A youth whose facial down or fine moustache has newly sprouted.
Detailed Meaning
In Persian and Urdu poetics, 'nau-khat' describes a youthful beloved upon whose lips or cheeks the first faint line of down (khatt) is just appearing. In this couplet, 'lab-e-nau-khat' denotes those fresh adolescent lips where the poet laments that no greenness or life blooms, questioning if life-giving figures like Isa and Khizr have ceased to exist.
Etymology
Persian compound of 'nau' (new, fresh) and 'khatt' (line, mark; down or faint beard).
Usage
A traditional ghazal motif marking the fleeting threshold between childhood innocence and adolescent allure.
Examples
the verdant charm of the downy lip
the captivating beauty of a youthful beloved
Synonyms
ताज़ा-ख़तनौ-उम्रनौ-ख़ेज़
Related Words
सब्ज़ारुख़्सारलबख़त