Note 401 — THE HISTORY OF ABU NIYYAH AND ABU NIYYATAYN.[394]
Richard Francis Burton translation · Edition 2
[The MS. reads “murafraf” (passive), from “Rafraf” = a shelf, arch, anything overhanging something else, therefore here applying either to the eye-brows as overhanging the eyes, or to the sockets, as forming a vault or cave for them. Perhaps it should be “murafrif” (active part), used of a bird, who spreads his wings and circles round his prey, ready to pounce upon it; hence with prying, hungry, greedy eyes.—St.]