शफ

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Iranian *ĉapʰás, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱoph₂ós (“hoof”). Cognate with Avestan 𐬯𐬀𐬟𐬀‎ (safa, “hoof”), Old English hōf (English hoof).

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /ɕɐ.pʰɐ́/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈɕɐ.pʰɐ/

Noun

शफ • (śaphá) m

1. hoof
   • c. 1700 BCE – 1200 BCE, Ṛgveda 5.83.5

     यस्य व्रते पर्थिवी नन्नमीति यस्य व्रते शफवज् जर्भुरीति।
     यस्य व्रत ओषधीर विश्वरूपाः स नः पर्जन्य महि शर्म यछ॥

     yasya vrate parthivī nannamīti yasya vrate śaphavaj jarbhurīti.
     yasya vrata oṣadhīra viśvarūpāḥ sa naḥ parjanya mahi śarma yacha.

     Thou at whose bidding earth bows low before thee, at whose command hoofed cattle fly in terror
     At whose behest the plants assume all colours, even thou Parjanya, yield us great protection.

2. claw
3. a wooden implement shaped like a claw