ना'ल

Meaning

Horseshoe or hoof; idiomatically denotes extreme restlessness or burning agony.

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu and Persian poetry, 'na'l' literally signifies a horseshoe or hoof. It is most famous in the idiom 'na'l dar aatish' (horseshoe in the fire), which represents intolerable agitation and restlessness, derived from an occult talisman where a horseshoe was heated to make someone restless in love. In this couplet, the hunted prey is so impatient to be slain by the beloved's sword that its hoof is metaphorically burning with eagerness.

Etymology

Arabic (نَعْل - na'l: sandal, shoe, horseshoe).

Usage

In ghazal aesthetics, it frequently appears in compounds like 'na'l dar aatish' to depict uncontrollable emotional agitation or yearning.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words