כָּסַף (b. h.) to peel, whiten (cmp. חָסַף).—Part. pass. כָּסוּף, pl. כְּסוּפִים bright. Sifré Deut. 13 וותיקים כ׳ distinguished (of position), bright of intellect; ib. Num. 92 וכסופים.
Hif. - הִכְסִיף 1) to grow pale, fade, wither. Pes. III, 5 (expl. שיאור) כל שהִכְסִיפוּ פניו כאדם וכ׳ a dough the surface of which becomes pale and wrinkled, like (the sight of) a man whose hair (שַׂעַר) stands up from fright. Nidd. 47ᵃ משיַכְסִיף ראש וכ׳ when the centre of the oblate portion of the breast begins to be wrinkled; Tosef. ib. VI, 4 משיִכָּסֵף (Nif.). Sabb. 34ᵇ ה׳ התחתון when the lower horizon becomes pale (is no longer red); Y. Ber. I, 2ᵇ bot.—Pes. 39ᵃ פניו מַכְסִיפִין the leaves look faded (and curled); a. e. —2) to deteriorate, fall in value, opp. השביח (cmp. חָסַר). Arakh. 30ᵃ וה׳ ועמד על מנה and fell until it was worth only one Manah. Keth. 80ᵇ שמא תַכְסִיף the soil may deteriorate (through neglect); a. e. —3) to put to shame; to frighten, to alarm. Ex. R. s. 35 (play on כֶּסֶף, I Chr. XXIX, 4) שהיה מַכְסִיף כל הזהבים it alarmed all gold-workers (emptying their shops); Cant. R. to III, 10; Y. Yoma IV, 41ᵈ top שהיה מ׳ בעד וכ׳ spread alarm among all the shops of &c.
Nif. - נִכְסַף to grow pale &c., v. supra.