פָּחַם (denom. of פֶּחָם) to be black, v. infra.
Pi. - פִּיחֵם to blacken. Y. Maas. Sh. V, beg. 55ᵈ; Tosef. Maas. Sh. V, 13 בית ע"ז מְפַחֲמִין אותו בפיחמין the site of an idolatrous temple is marked by blackening it (its debris) with coal. Y. Pes. VI, 33ᵃ bot. [read:] מה … ומפציע ומְפַחֵם כך אני יורד בו as a kettle (thrown at a person) scalds and wounds and blackens, so will I come down at him; a. e.—Part. pass. מְפוּחָם; f. מְפוּחֶמֶת; pl. מְפוּחָמִים, מְפוּחָמִין; מְפוּחָמוֹת. Gen. R. s. 36, v. כָּעַר; Y. Taan. I, end, 64ᵈ חם יצא מפ׳ Ham came out (of the ark) black. Y. Sot. II, 17ᵈ bot. לא במפ׳ not in a sooty vessel. Cant. R. to I, 6 ידיה מפ׳ her hands were blackened. Ib. את שכולך מפ׳ thou (negress) who art black all over; a. e.
Nif. - נִפְחָם,
Hithpa. - הִתְפַּחֵם, , Nithpa. נִתְפַּחֵם to be blackened. Yalk. Num. 764; Yalk. Cant. 982 נפ׳ בשמש became black through exposure to the sun, v. כִּרְכֵּם. Gen. R. s. 18 נִתְפַּחֲמוּ פני הנשים מפני השמש the faces of the (Jewish) women had become black &c. Gen. R. s. 19, beg. ככלי פשתן … מִתְפַּחֲמִין קימעא וכ׳ (a scholar’s reputation is) like the fine linen clothes from Bethshan, if they are in the least stained, they are ruined; Koh. R. to I, 18 אם נִתְפַּחֲמוּ וכ׳. Ib. אם פָּחֲמוּ (Kal). Deut. R. s. 1 ונתפחמו ידיה and her hands were soiled with soot; אם מקנחת … מתפחם if she wipes her hands on the wall, the wall will be soiled; a. fr.