Core sense — a whip, or lash; a portion, or share; violence, or severitygenerated
1I struck Zeyd with a whip—ضَرَبْتُ زَيْدًا سَوْطًا
A whip: plaited skin, [or a lash,] with which one beats, and well known; the same as مِقْرَعَةٌ. So called because it mixes the flesh with the blood when a man or a beast is struck with it, or because its several parts are mixed together.
Plural of few أَسْوَاطٌ, of many سِيَاطٌ, the latter originally سِوَاطٌ.
That is, ضَرَبْتُ زَيْدًا بِسَوْطٍ. Or it is one of the rare cases in which a prefixed noun is dropped, the original being ضَرَبْتُهُ ضَرْبَةَ سَوْطٍ [I struck him a stroke, or lash, of a whip], meaning ضَرْبَةً بِسَوْطٍ, or ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً بِسَوْطٍ.
he struck him a hundred strokes, or lashes, of the whip—ضَرَبَهُ مِائَةَ سَوْطٍ
Mentioned in the article سحل.
Lane cites “Bd in lxxxix. 12” — a commentary, not the verse; no modern number is given
1.1figurative · مجازa portion, or share; or violence, or severity, of punishment—فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ
In the Qur'ān 89:12. The severity is likened to the pain of a whip, because punishment is sometimes with the سَوْط; and the Arabs use this word for every kind of punishment when it is extreme, even if there is no beating in it.
they two are agreed upon one mode—هُمَا يَتَعَاطَيَانِ سَوْطًا وَاحِدًا
So the verse means: And your Lord poured upon them a portion, or a share, or violence, or severity, of punishment. Or it means a mixture, prepared for them, of various punishments. Or it is meant to show that what befell them in the present world was, compared with what is prepared for them in the final state, like the whip compared with the sword. Or the meaning is a kind of punishment.
Or the meaning is that they two enter into, or venture boldly upon and do, one thing, or affair, that is, one sort of thing. In the place of هما is put ما.
1.2the measure of a whip, that is, a whip's length—قِيدُ سَوْطٍ
An astronomical measure, which, from several instances noted in the work of Kzw and others, seems to be the same as رُمْحٌ in modern usage, that is, four and a half degrees by rule; but, like that measure, not exact nor uniform in every instance.
1.3figurative · مجازthe seed-stalks of leeks, the stalks on which are their زَمَالِيق—سِيَاطٌ
This is the plural. So called as being likened to the سياط with which one strikes.
1.4figurative · مجازa remaining portion of water, or of a pool of water left by a torrent—سَوْطٌ
In some copies الغَدِيل is wrongly put for الغَدِير.
It is extended like the سَوْط with which one strikes.
Plural سِيَاطٌ.
1.5figurative · مجاز — inferred
A place where water collects and stagnates. Plural أَسْوَاطٌ.
1.6figurative · مجاز
A road, or track, of little width, between two elevations.
Plural أَسْيَاطٌ [or سِيَاطٌ?] and أًسْوَاطٌ.
But some say شَوْطٌ.
1.7figurative · مجاز — inferred
Also a kind of tent, of [goats'] hair; so Ibn-El-Kelbee, under the word بَيْتٌ.
1.8figurative · مجازlight entering from an opening in a wall, in sunshine—سَوْطُ بَاطِلٍ
Also called خَيْطُ بَاطِلٍ, but some say it is with ش.
It is mentioned with ش in the article شوط.
Qur’ānic occurrences سَوْط
89:13
فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍTherefore did thy Lord pour on them a scourge of diverse chastisements:
Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.
Show Lane's original text
[A whip;] a certain thing, (S, M,) namely, plaited skin, (Bd in lxxxix. 12,) [or a lash,] with which one beats, or strikes, (S, M,) well known; (Msb;) i. q. مِقْرَعَةٌ : (K:) so called because it mixes the flesh with the blood (IDrd, M, K) when a man or a beast is struck with it; (IDrd, TA;) or because its several component parts are mixed together: (Bd, ubi suprà:) pl. [of pauc.] أَسْوَاطٌ and [of mult.] سِيَاطٌ : (S, M, Msb, K:) the latter originally سِوَاطٌ . (TA.) The saying ضَرَبْتُ زَيْدًا سَوْطًا means ضَرَبْتُ زَيْدًا بِسَوْطٍ [I struck Zeyd with a whip]: (M, Msb: *) or it is one of those rare instances in which a prefixed n. is suppressed; being originally ضَرَبْتُهُ ضَرْبَةَ سَوْطٍ [I struck him a stroke, or lash, of a whip], meaning ضَرْبَةً بِسَوْطٍ [a stroke, or lash, with a whip]: (M:) or ضَرْبَةً وَاحِدَةً بِسَوْطٍ [one stroke, or lash, with a whip]. (Mgh.) One says also, ضَرَبَهُ مِائَةَ سَوْطٍ [He struck him a hundred strokes, or lashes, of the whip]. (S and K in art. سحل .) In the Kur [lxxxix. 12], where it is said, فَصَبَّ عَلَيْهِمْ رَبُّكَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ , (S, Msb,) it signifies A portion, or share: (S, K:) or (S, Msb, but in the K, “ and ”) vehemence, or severity; (S, Msb, K;) as being likened to the paining of a whip; (Msb;) because punishment is sometimes with the سَوْط ; (S;) and this word is used by the Arabs to denote every kind of punishment when it is extreme, though there be in it no beating: (Fr:) [therefore,] the above-cited saying in the Kur means, [And thy Lord poured upon them a portion, or a share, or vehemence, or severity, of punishment: or it means,] a mixture; prepared for them, of various punishments: or it is designed to show that what befell them in the present world was, in comparison with what is prepared for them in the final state, like the whip in comparison with the sword: (Bd:) or the meaning is a kind of punishment. (Jel.) [Agreeably with this last explanation, it is said that] the phrase هُمَا يَتَعَاطَيَانِ سَوْطًا وَاحِدًا means They two are agreed upon one mode: (A:) or the meaning is [they two enter, or plunge, into; or venture boldly upon, and do;] one thing, or affair; (S, and K; but wanting in one copy of the former; and in the latter, in the place of هما is put ما ;) i. e., one sort [of thing or affair]. (S.) [ قِيدُ سَوْطٍ The measure of a whip, i. e. a whip's length, is an astronomical measure, which seems, from several instances that I have noted, in the work of Kzw &c., to be the same as رُمْحٌ is in modern usage; i. e. four degrees and a half, by rule; but, like the latter, not precise nor uniform in every instance.] [The pl.] سِيَاطٌ also signifies The seed-stalks of leeks; (TK;) the stalks, of leeks, upon which are the زَمَالِيق thereof: (M, K:) so called as being likened to the سياط with which one strikes. (M.) And سَوْطٌ signifies also A remaining portion (A, K) of water, (A,) or of a pool of water left by a torrent, (K, [in some copies of which الغَدِيل is erroneously put for الغَدِير ,]) extended like the سَوْط [with which one strikes]: (A:) pl. سِيَاطٌ . (TA.) And A place where water collects and stagnates: (K:) pl. أَسْوَاطٌ . (TA.) And A road, or track, of little width, between two elevations: pl. أَسْيَاطٌ [or سِيَاطٌ ?] and أًسْوَاطٌ : so in the A: but some say شَوْطٌ , q. v. (TA.) Also A kind of tent, of [goats'] hair. (Ibn-El-Kelbee, TA voce بَيْتٌ , q. v.) And سَوْطُ بَاطِلٍ Light entering from an aperture in a wall, in sunshine; (K, TA;) also termed خَيْطُ بَاطِلٍ : but as some say, with ش . (TA: and it is mentioned with ش in art. شوط in the S, and again in the K.)