Jastrow: עוֹרֶף

עוֹרֶף m. (b. h. עֹרֶף; עָרַף) 1) hind part of the head with the neck, neck. Ḥull. I, 4 השוחט מן הע׳ if one cuts the animal from the neck (frontward); ib. 19ᵇ מאי ע׳ what is meant by עורף? אילימא ע׳ ממש shall I say, the real ‘oref (occiput)? Ib. מול הרואה את הע׳, v. מוּל I. Ib. (ref. to Jer. II, 27) מכלל דע׳ להדי פנים from this we conclude that ‘oref is the part opposite the face. Ab. Zar. 25ᵃ (ref. to Gen. XLIX, 8) איזוהי מלחמה שצריכה יד כנגד ע׳ וכ׳ what kind of warfare requires the hand against (opposite) the neck? The bow; a. fr.—B. Bath. 25ᵃ (ref. to Deut. XXXII, 2 יערף) זו … שבאה מעוֹרְפּוֹ של עולם that is (the rain coming with) the western wind which comes from the hinder part (cmp. אחור, Is. IX, 11) of the world; Sifré Deut. 306 שהוא עָרְפּוֹ של עולם. Ib. Num. 126; Yalk. ib. 762, v. פָּתִיל. —2) separation, division. Ḥag. 15ᵃ in the heavens above there is לא ישיבה … ולא ע׳ ולא עיפוי no sitting down (for deliberation), no conflict, no division and no junction (Maim. to Snh. ch. X; Rashi: no back, i.e. everything is in sight, nor weariness).