Word Meaning
मकड़ी
makṛī
hinoun, feminine
Meaning
A spider, an eight-legged arachnid that spins webs.
Detailed Meaning
In literal terms, it denotes a spider, known for weaving delicate webs. In this couplet, it is used in the simile 'makdi ka sa jaala' (like a spider's web) to portray how frail and insignificant the glorious moonlight appears before the luminous radiance of the beloved. The imagery contrasts the grand 'sheet of moonlight' with a flimsy spiderweb.
Etymology
From Sanskrit मर्कटक (markaṭaka) or मर्कट (markaṭa) through Prakrit मक्कड (makkaḍa).
Usage
In classical Urdu ghazal, the spider and its web are frequent motifs representing desolation, abandoned ruins, or utter fragility.
Examples
like a spider's web covering the old ruins
the frail thread woven by a spider
Synonyms
अंकबूतमकड़ा
Related Words
जालासूतकीट