Jastrow: קָבַע I

קָבַע I (b. h.) [to cover, press,] 1) to overpower, rob. Tanḥ. T’rumah 9 (ref. to Mal. III, 8) לשון ערבי … מה אתה קוֹבְעֵנִי it is an Arabic expression; when an Arab argues with his neighbor and wants to say, why wilt thou rob me?, he says, why art thou ḳob’ʿeni?; Yalk. Mal. 587 (read גוזלני for גמלני). —2) to prevent. Yad. IV, 3 קוֹבֵעַ אתה … מלהוריד וכ׳ (by allowing the priests’ share to be given to the poor) thou preventest the heaven from sending down dew and rain.