sb. Also seriba, sariba, zerybeh, zare(e)ba, zer(r)iba, zereba. [Arab. zarībah pen or enclosure for cattle (zarb sheepfold).] In the Soudan and adjacent parts of Africa, A fence or inclosure, usually constructed of thorn-bushes, for defence against the attacks of enemies or wild beasts; a fenced or fortified camp.
1849. O’Reilly, trans. Werne’s Exped. Sources White Nile, II. 112. A shining seriba of reeds, the stalks of which … perhaps only afford resistance to tame animals.
1852. Eliza Cook’s Jrnl., 27 March, 337. The Sultan has planted a zerybeh, or circular inclosure, with two issues.
1867. Baker, Nile Trib., xii. 315. We employed ourselves … in cutting thorn branches, and constructing a zareeba.
1884. Times, 11 March, 5/1. The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) advanced this morning to Baker Pasha’s zariba.
b. Applied to a formation of troops for defence against attack.
1887. Times, 9 April, 5/5. Forming a zariba, or square, to resist cavalry.
c. transf. and fig.
1885. Glasgow Her., 19 March, 4/5. It is when he advances from these elementary zarebas that he loses himself in the wilderness, and, apparently from an inherent inability to state any fact correctly.
1898. A. White, in Nat. Rev., Aug., 804. The … Tsar … is … surrounded by a zereba of detail and enticed from affairs of State by organized diversions.
d. attrib.
1895. A. H. Keane, Africa, I. v. 245. The expression ‘zeriba country’ applied by some geographers to the northern slope of the Nile-Congo divide.
1901. H. Vivian, Abyss., vii. 184. A succession of enclosures, each with a zareba wall.
Hence Zariba v. trans., to surround or inclose with a zariba; intr. to construct or form a zariba.
1885. Capt. R. F. T. Gascoigne, in 19th Cent., July, 89. Orders were given to zereba ourselves…. The Brigadier ordered the force to zereba on the best position that was near.
1886. Phil Robinson, in Contemp. Rev., June, 850. He had a large garden, zerebaed in with aloes and henna.
