trickster, quack

, (A, Msb,) inf. n. شَعْوَذَةٌ, (A, L, Msb, K,) He practised the art termed شَعْوَذَة, expl. below: (A, L, Msb, K:) as also شَعْبَذَ, (Msb, K,) inf. n. شَعْبَذَةٌ: (A, Msb, K:) so some say. (Msb.) [See what here follows.]

Legerdemain, or sleight-of-hand, (A, L, K,) and false miracles, (TA,) and fascinations, (K,) or fascination, (A, L,) or a kind of play, (Msb,) like سِحْر, (A, L, Msb, K,) making a thing to appear different from what it really is, (L, K,) or showing a man what has no real existence: (Msb:) or making what is false to assume the form of what is true: (TA:) as also شَعْبَذَةٌ: (A, Msb:) vulgarly termed شَعْبَثَةٌ. (TA.) ― -b2- Also Quickness: or lightness, or agility, in any affair. (L.) ― -b3- It is not a word of the language of the people of the desert. (Lth, L, Msb.)

A messenger of princes or governors, (L, K,) who journeys on affairs of importance for them (L) upon post-horses or other beasts appointed for their conveyance: (L, K:) so called because of his quickness. (L.) It is not a word of the language of the people of the desert. (Lth, L.) ― -b2- See also what follows.

and مُشَعْوَذٌ A man who practises the art termed شَعْوَذَة; (L, K;) as also ↓ شَعْوَذِىٌّ: (TA in art. عجب:) improperly called مُشَعْبِذٌ, and surnamed أَبُو العَجَبِ. (Eth-Tha'álibee, TA.)