ببر

بَبْرٌ A certain beast of prey, (M, K,) well known; (K;) a certain animal, (Msb,) namely, the فُرَانِق [or lion's provider], (S,) that emulates, or vies with, the lion in running, or that is hostile to the lion: [so may be rendered the words يُعَادِى الأَسَدَ; and in the uncertainty that exists respecting the animal in question, the meaning of this expression is doubtful: an animal may be called (as the jackal is) the lion's provider merely because the lion follows it and deprives it of its prey:] (S, Msb:) or a certain Indian animal, stronger than the lion, between which and the lion and leopard, or panther, (نَمِر,) exists hostility (مُعَادَاةٌ); when it attacks the leopard, or panther, (نمر,), the lion aids the latter; but the scorpion is on friendly terms with it, and sometimes makes its abode in its hair: (Kzw:) the word is foreign, or Persian, (أَعْجَمِىٌّ,) [app. the Persian بَبَرْ, which is said to be applied to the tiger, leopard, and lion,] arabicized: (M, K:) Az thinks it to be a foreign word introduced into the Arabic language: (Msb:) pl. بُبُورٌ. (S, Msb, K.)