nisba

An Arabic derivational adjective formed with the suffix ـِيّ m (-iyy) / ـِيَّة f (-iyya), or the equivalent construction in another Semitic (or other Afroasiatic) language.

The part of an Arabic name consisting of such an adjective.

Knowing the nisbas of the litigants and their representatives was the qāḍī's single most important preliminary task.