zaribahttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zariba_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezariba, n.
First published 1921; not fully revised

zaribanoun

    1. a.
      1849–
      In the Sudan and adjacent parts of Africa, A fence or enclosure, usually constructed of thorn-bushes, for defence against the attacks of enemies or wild beasts; a fenced or fortified camp.
      1. 1849
        A shining seriba of reeds, the stalks of which..perhaps only afford resistance to tame animals.
        O'Reilly, translation of Werne, Exped. Sources White Nile vol. II. 112
      2. 1852
        The Sultan has planted a zerybeh, or circular inclosure, with two issues.
        Eliza Cook's Journal 27 March 337
      3. 1867
        We employed ourselves..in cutting thorn branches, and constructing a zareeba.
        S. W. Baker, Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia xii. 315
      4. 1884
        The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) advanced this morning to Baker Pasha's zariba.
        Times 11 March 5
    2. b.
      1887–
      Applied to a formation of troops for defence against attack.
      1. 1887
        Forming a zariba, or square, to resist cavalry.
        Times 9 April 5/5
    3. c.
      1885–
      transferred and figurative.
      1. 1885
        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.
        Glasgow Herald 19 March 4/5
      2. 1898
        The..Tsar..is..surrounded by a zereba of detail and enticed from affairs of State by organized diversions.
        A. White in National Review August 804
      3. 1916
        The orchestra..took their places behind a zareba of bunting-covered biscuit-boxes and hired palms erected in front of the stage.
        ‘Taffrail’, Pincher Martin iii. 42
      4. 1940
        The shadows of the palms pointed at him like a zareba of sabres.
        G. Greene, Power & Glory ii. ii. 128
      5. 1961
        Owing to his obiter dicta having to be filtered through a zareba of white hair, it was not always easy to catch exactly what Mr. Cornelius said.
        P. G. Wodehouse, Ice in Bedroom vii. 52
      6. 1965
        The final approach to any birds' nest was an affair of struggle and achievement. My hand reaches through the twigged zareba of basket and basket handle, touches the soft lining, touches the firm intimacy of the eggs.
        G. Maxwell, House of Elrig x. 139
      7. 1974
        A novelist..has direct access to his readers, with no thorny zariba of a cast of actors to battle through.
        Author Spring 33
      8. 1984
        The two previous ones faced the reader in their opening chapters with an almost impenetrable zareba of thickset descriptions of the committee structure.
        Listener 3 May 24/2
    4. d.
      1895–
      attributive.
      1. 1895
        The expression ‘zeriba country’ applied by some geographers to the northern slope of the Nile-Congo divide.
        A. H. Keane, translation of W. Junker, Trav. in Africa vol. I. v. 245
      2. 1901
        A succession of enclosures, each with a zareba wall.
        H. Vivian, Abyssinia vii. 184

zariba, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zariba, n. was last modified in July 2023.