Core sense — such a one, such a man; used in place of a proper namegenerated
1such a woman: standing in for the proper name of a female—فُلَانَةُ
The headword itself stands in for the proper name of a human being, that is, of a male; each is used without ال. [The first may be rendered Such a one, or Such a man; the second, Such a woman.]
such a beast: standing in for other than a human being—الفُلَانُ
الفُلَانَةُ is used in the same way, for a particular camel or a particular beast.
I rode such a beast, that is, such a male beast—رَكِبْتُ الفُلَانَ
I milked such a beast—حَلَبْتُ الفُلَانَةَ
فُلَانٌ has no dual and no plural.
said to a single male person: such a one—يَا فُلُ
said to two—يَا فُلَانِ
said to a plural number—يَافُلُونَ
the corresponding feminine form—يَا فُلَةُ
And so on with the other feminine forms; see more in the article فل.
According to Kh, فُلَانٌ is of the measure فُعَالٌ, and its diminutive is فُلَيْنٌ. Some say instead that it is of the measure فُلَانٌ [originally فُلْوَانٌ], with و rejected, so that its diminutive is فُلَيَّانٌ [originally فُلَيْوَانٌ], just as إنْسَانٌ is said by some to be إنْسِيَانٌ, of which the ى is rejected, so that its diminutive is أُنيْسِيَانٌ.
Qur’ānic occurrences فُلَان
25:28
يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِى لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا"Ah! woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend!
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
is a substitute for the proper name of a human being, (S, Msb, * K, TA,) i. e. of a male; (S, TA;) and in like manner فُلَانَةُ , (Msb, K, TA,) for that of a female; (TA,) each without ال ; (Msb:) [the former may be rendered Such a one, or Such a man; and the latter, Such a woman:] and الفُلَانُ and الفُلَانَةُ for other than a human being, (S, K, TA,) i. e. for a [particular] camel, (Lth, TA,) or for a [particular] beast, as in the saying, رَكِبْتُ الفُلَانَ [I rode such a beast, i. e. such a male beast], and حَلَبْتُ الفُلَانَةَ [I milked such a beast]: (Msb, TA:) فُلَانٌ has no dual nor pl.: (IB, TA:) [but] sometimes one says to a single person, mase., يَا فُلُ ; and to two, يَا فُلَانِ ; and to a pl. number, يَافُلُونَ : and in the fem., يَا فُلَةُ ; &c.; (K: [see more in art. فل :]) accord. to Kh, فُلَانٌ is of the measure فُعَالٌ ; and its dim. is فُلَيْنٌ : (TA:) or, as some say, it is of the measure فُلَانٌ , [originally فُلْوَانٌ ,] with و rejected, therefore its dim. is فُلَيَّانٌ [originally فُلَيْوَانٌ ]; (T, L, TA;) like as إنْسَانٌ is [said by some to be] إنْسِيَانٌ , of which the ى is rejected. and therefore its dim. is أُنيْسِيَانٌ . (T, L.)