zerda, n.

zerda
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zerda_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# † zerdanoun

## Earlier version

- zerda in OED Second Edition (1989)

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zerda mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zerda. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

This word is now obsolete. It is last recorded around the 1860s.

### Where does the noun zerda come from?

Earliest known use

late 1700s

The earliest known use of the noun zerda is in the late 1700s.

OED's earliest evidence for zerda is from 1780, in a translation by William Smellie, printer, editor, and author.

zerda is probably a borrowing from Latin.

Etymons: Latin zerda.

### Nearby entries

1. Zeppelin, n. 1896–
2. zeppelin, v. 1910–
3. Zeppelined, adj. 1915–
4. Zeppelining, n. 1915–
5. Zeppelinist, n. 1912–
6. Zeppelinistic, adj. 1930–
7. Zeppelinite, n. 1909–
8. zeppole, n. 1835–
9. zepto-, comb. form
10. zeranol, n. 1971–
11. zerda, n.1780–1860
12. zerk, n. 1926–
13. zero, n. & adj. 1604–
14. zero, v. 1813–
15. zeroable, adj. 1956–
16. zero balance, adj. 1974–
17. zero-base, adj. 1962–
18. zero-based, adj. 1963–
19. zero beat, n. 1920–
20. zero-carbon, adj. 1990–
21. zero-coupon, adj. 1979–

## Etymology

### Summary

Probably a borrowing from Latin.
Etymon: Latin zerda.
Probably < scientific Latin zerda, specific name (E. A. W. von Zimmermann Geographische Geschichte des Menschen (1780) vol. II. 247) < Maghribi Arabic zarday, zardi, zirda, variants of jrad fennec, also rat…
Probably < scientific Latin zerda, specific name (E. A. W. von Zimmermann Geographische Geschichte des Menschen (1780) vol. II. 247) < Maghribi Arabic zarday, zardi, zirda, variants of jrad fennec, also rat, mongoose.

### Notes

The Arabic word is a derivative of the consonantal root jrḏ, which forms many nouns denoting various small rodents. Variation between j and z occurs in many North African varieties of Arabic.
Compare German Zerda (1780 in Zimmermann).
Buffon (Hist. nat. vol. III. (1776) Suppl. 148) gave a picture of the animal. Shortly afterwards, E. Skiöldebrand described the animal in a paper in Kungliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens handlingar (1777) vol. 38 265, where he said it was so called by the ‘Moors’.
New English Dictionary (OED first edition) (1921) gives the pronunciation as (zə̄·ɹdă) /ˈzɜːdə/ .

## Meaning & use

Obsolete.

1. 1780–1860
   The fennec fox, Vulpes zerda.
   1. 1780

      > Zerda.

      W. Smellie in translation of Comte de Buffon, Natural History General & Particular vol. VIII. 293 (table)
   2. 1781

      > D[og] with a very pointed visage..is called by the Moors, Zerda.

      T. Pennant, History of Quadrupeds vol. I. 248
   3. 1824

      > The Fennec,..called also Zerda.

      E. Griffith et al., Cuvier's Animal Kingdom (1827) vol. I. 332
   4. 1860

      > Different kinds of dogs have sprung from..wolves, foxes, jackals, zerdas, and even hyænas.

      M. Reid, Quadrupeds 34
   animals
   1. zerda 1780–1860
      The fennec fox, Vulpes zerda.
   2. fennec 1790–
      The name of an animal (Canis zerda) found in Africa, resembling a small fox, but having very long ears.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

zerda, n. was revised in June 2018.

zerda, n. was last modified in December 2024.