zaribanoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zariba mean?
There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zariba. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
zariba has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How common is the noun zariba?
| 1860 | 0.082 |
| 1870 | 0.077 |
| 1880 | 0.077 |
| 1890 | 0.075 |
| 1900 | 0.078 |
| 1910 | 0.079 |
| 1920 | 0.067 |
| 1930 | 0.04 |
| 1940 | 0.034 |
| 1950 | 0.026 |
| 1960 | 0.019 |
| 1970 | 0.016 |
| 1980 | 0.016 |
| 1990 | 0.017 |
| 2000 | 0.014 |
| 2010 | 0.013 |
How is the noun zariba pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zariba come from?
Earliest known use
1840s
The earliest known use of the noun zariba is in the 1840s.
OED's earliest evidence for zariba is from 1849, in a translation by O'Reilly.
zariba is a borrowing from Arabic.
Etymons: Arabic zarībah.
Nearby entries
- Zarathustrian, adj. & n.1859–
- Zarathustrianism, n.1864–
- Zarathustric, adj.1848–
- Zarathustrism, n.1871–
- zaratite, n.1858–
- zarcole, n.1585–
- zarda, n.1899–
- zardozi, n.1871–
- zarf | zurf, n.1836–
- zari, n.1969–
- zariba, n.1849–
- zariba, v.1885–
- zarnich, n.1612–
- Zarp, n.1895–
- zarzuela, n.1888–
- zat, n.1934–
- zatch, n.1950–
- zawiya, n.1836–
- zawn, n.1865–
- zayat, n.1823–
- zayde, n.1946–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- 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.
- 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 - 1852
The Sultan has planted a zerybeh, or circular inclosure, with two issues.
Eliza Cook's Journal 27 March 337 - 1867
We employed ourselves..in cutting thorn branches, and constructing a zareeba.
S. W. Baker, Nile Tributaries of Abyssinia xii. 315 - 1884
The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) advanced this morning to Baker Pasha's zariba.
Times 11 March 5
- shide-wallOld English–A rampart composed of piles.
- barrierc1380–gen. A fence or material obstruction of any kind erected (or serving) to bar the advance of persons… originally. A palisade or stockade erected to…
- peel?a1400–Chiefly Scottish. A palisade or fence formed of stakes; a stockade; a stockaded or palisaded (and often moated) enclosure, frequently as the outer…
- bails1523–plural. Outer line of fortification, formed of stakes; palisades, barriers.
- palisade1588–Originally: a fence made of wooden pales or stakes fixed in the ground, forming an enclosure or defence. Subsequently also: a fence made of metal…
- stockado1608–1809= stockade, n. 1.
- stockade1614–A defensive barrier of stakes or piles placed across a harbour or river, around a building, village, and the like; spec. in Fortification, a…
- fraise1775–Fortification. A palisade, made horizontal or slightly inclining to the horizon, placed for defence round a work near the berm.
- picket1779–North American. A fence or barrier made of these; a stockade. Now rare.
- estacade1827–An arrangement of stakes for defence.
- zariba1849–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…
- boma1860–East African and South African. An enclosure surrounded by a fence or stockade, used for keeping animals. Later also: (in hotels, holiday resorts…
- boma1860–East African and South African. A barrier formed from thorny branches or wooden stakes, used for defence against attacks by enemies or wild animals…
- b.1887–Applied to a formation of troops for defence against attack.
- 1887
Forming a zariba, or square, to resist cavalry.
Times 9 April 5/5
society armed hostility military operations distribution of troops formation [nouns] other formations- herse1523–1897Military. A form of battle array. Cf. harrow, n.¹ 3. Obsolete.
- shears1562In plural. Something having the shape of a pair of shears. = shear-battle, n. (see compounds C.2).
- snail1579–91Military. A formation resembling the letter D; = limaçon, n. 1. Obsolete.
- rendy1581The position of troops deployed on a battlefield.
- saw battle1598A disposition of troops in which the battalions form a serrated front.
- shear-battle1598A tactical arrangement of forces into two wedge-shaped formations acting in parallel directions toward the same objective.
- file1616–Military. A small body of men, formerly varying in number from two to twelve or more, but now usually two. Also, when ‘marching in files’ (see fil…
- windmill battle1626A complex battle formation allowing an army to fight on all sides, in which four columns facing in different directions are arranged around a…
- horn battle1635An army in battle array having horns or wings.
- sconce-battle1635–A particular mode of drawing up troops in the field.
- potence1760–1865Military. A troop formation in which a line is thrown out at right angles to the main body. Obsolete.
- echelon1796–‘A formation of troops in which the successive divisions are placed parallel to one another, but no two on the same alignement, each division having…
- marching order1819–Military. A formation for marching. Also: uniform or equipment for marching. Cf. heavy (marching) order at heavy, adj.¹ A.I.7.
- harrow1876–A diagonal arrangement of soldiers; also of migratory fowl in the air.
- forward defence1883–A defensive strategy in which forces positioned along the limits of a territory, rather than in a stronger position behind this (cf. forward strategy…
- zariba1887–Applied to a formation of troops for defence against attack.
- c.1885–transferred and figurative.
- 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 - 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 - 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 - 1940
The shadows of the palms pointed at him like a zareba of sabres.
G. Greene, Power & Glory ii. ii. 128 - 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 - 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 - 1974
A novelist..has direct access to his readers, with no thorny zariba of a cast of actors to battle through.
Author Spring 33 - 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
- hornOld English–In Biblical and derived uses: an emblem of power and might; a means of defence or resistance; hence horn of salvation (†health) is used of God or…
- shieldc1200–transferred and figurative. Something serving as a defence against attack or injury. Often in echoes of Biblical language referring to metaphorical…
- warranta1272–1500A safeguard, protection, defence. Obsolete.
- bergha1325Protection, shelter.
- armour1340–figurative. Mental or spiritual defence or protection; a quality, trait, characteristic, etc., which provides this. Now rare.
- hedge1340–transferred and figurative. A barrier, limit, defence; a means of protection or defence.
- defencec1350–A person who or thing which defends against physical attack or injury. Something which defends or protects against physical attack, illness, or…
- bucklerc1380–figurative. A means of defence; protection, protector.
- protectiona1382–A person who or thing which protects someone or something.
- safety1399–1793A means or instrument of safety; a protection, safeguard. Obsolete.
- targea1400–figurative.
- suretyc1405–1878A means of safety, a safeguard. Obsolete.
- wall1412–figurative. Applied to a person or thing that serves as a defence.
- pavise?a1439–1568figurative. A defence, a means of protection. Obsolete.
- fencec1440–1756Means or method of defence; protection, security. Obsolete.
- safeguard?c1500–Something that offers security from danger; a defence, protection.
- pale?a1525–figurative. A limit, a boundary; a restriction; a defence, a safeguard. Frequently in to break (also leap) the pale: to go beyond accepted bounds; to…
- waretack1542–45A safeguard.
- muniment1546–1860Something serving as a defence or protection. Obsolete.
- shrouda1561–A thing serving as a covering or protection; a defence; a covering, screen, veil, ‘cloak’, disguise. Now somewhat rhetorical.
- bulwark1577–transferred and figurative. A powerful defence or safeguard. Sometimes applied to persons.
- countermure1581–figurative (cf. bulwark, n. 2, rampart, n. 1b.)
- ward1582–1697Defence, protection, shelter. Obsolete.
- prevention1584–A means of preventing something; a safeguard; a hindrance, an obstruction.
- armourya1586–figurative and in figurative context. A repository or plentiful source of something (cf. aumbry, n. 2b). Also: an array of resources available for…
- fortificationa1586–transferred and figurative. A means of defence.
- securitya1586–Something which secures or makes safe. A protection or defence against, from, †for something.
- penthouse1589–figurative. A thing (material or immaterial) resembling or reminiscent of a penthouse (in various senses).
- palladium1600–In extended use: a thing on which the safety of a nation, institution, privilege, etc., is believed to depend; a source of protection, a safeguard.
- guard1609–Something which guards, defends, or protects; a protection, defence. literal and figurative.
- subtectacle1609–12Covering, protection.
- tutament1609A means of defence; a safeguard.
- umbrella1609–1734figurative. A means of shelter or protection.
- bastion1615–figurative and in figurative contexts. Anything considered as a defence against something perceived or presented as a threat; (now esp.) an…
- screena1616–figurative. Something which provides protection from danger, punishment, attack, etc. Also: something interposed or intervening as an obstruction…
- amulet1621–fig. A preservative, protection, or charm.
- alexikakon1635–1833A charm or remedy that gives protection against evil, disease, or misfortune.
- breastwork1643–In extended and figurative use: a form of defence; a barrier.
- security1643–Something which secures or makes safe. Without complement: a protection, guard, or defence.
- protectionary1653–†a. n. A person who provides protection (obsolete rare); b. adj. of the nature of or characterized by protection; protectionist.
- sepiment1660–78transferred and figurative. Something that encloses or guards.
- back1680figurative. A defence, protection.
- shadower1691Something affording protection. Obsolete. rare.
- aegis1760–figurative. Originally: a protection or impregnable defence. Subsequently: the backing or support of a person or thing. See also under the aegis of…
- inoculation1761–figurative. The imbuing of a person with feelings, opinions, habits, etc., esp. as a form of protection or defence; protection or defence against…
- buoya1770figurative. Something which marks out a course, indicates danger, or keeps one afloat.
- propugnaculum1773–A bulwark, a rampart. Also figurative: something which affords defence or protection.
- panoply1789–In extended use: any complete covering or protective layer.
- armament1793–In extended use: any means of defence or attack; the set of resources available to carry out a task or ward off a threat, spec. the range of…
- fascine1793–figurative and in extended use; esp. something which acts or is employed as a defence. Now rare.
- protective1827–Something which affords protection; spec. (a) Medicine a medicinal agent or dressing applied to the skin (now rare); (b) a condom.
- breakwater1828–figurative and in figurative contexts. Something likened to a breakwater (sense 3a) in offering protection from or reducing the force of something.
- beaver1838–figurative.
- face shield1842–Any of various types of shield or hard covering worn to protect or conceal the face (or part of it); (now) esp. a transparent plastic guard worn…
- vaccine1861–figurative. Something likened to a vaccine in being a form of protection or defence.
- zariba1885–transferred and figurative.
- wolf-platform1906–A hillside embankment in the form of a platform, suggested to have been used as a means of defence against the wolves of the lowlands.
- firebreak1959–A measure intended to stop the spread of something dangerous or harmful; (now) spec. a short period in which travel, business, and human contact…
the world space relative position condition of being external enclosing or enclosure [nouns] an enclosed space or place- lockOld Englishgen. An enclosed space, esp. one that is locked or shut up; a place of confinement. Cf. loke, n. Obsolete.
- cloisterc1300–An enclosed place or space, enclosure; close; compass. Also figurative. Obsolete or archaic. (In later use apparently taken as figurative from sense…
- closea1325–1647A place or area protected by a surrounding wall or similar fortification; a stronghold. Obsolete.
- purseynta1325–1495The area enclosed within a specified boundary; spec. the area under the jurisdiction of a municipal authority, court, etc. Cf. precinct, n., procinct…
- clausurea1398–1609An enclosed place, an enclosure, a close.
- closinga1398–1886An enclosed place or area; spec. (a) the enclosed area surrounding an ancient temple; the walled grounds of a cathedral or abbey; (b) (English reg…
- blokc1400An enclosed space.
- closurec1415–1874An area surrounded by a wall, fence, or other barrier; an enclosed place or area; an enclosure. Obsolete.
- closer1422–1530An enclosed area, such as a courtyard or an enclosure for animals.
- procinct1422–1822= precinct, n. (in various senses).
- parclosea1470–1571An enclosed space; esp. one in a building, separated from the main area by a screen or railing. Obsolete.
- enterclose1480An enclosed space or passage. Cf. parclose, n. 1b. Obsolete. rare.
- enclose1483The space enclosed by a boundary; the precincts.
- sept1548–1883An enclosure; an area marked off for a special purpose. Also figurative: a spiritual fold (see fold, n.² 1b).
- enclosure1552–That which is enclosed. A space included within or marked off by boundaries. spec. on a racecourse (see quot. 1963).
- shut1605–62An enclosure; a stew for fish. Obsolete.
- cincture1627concrete. An enclosure, enclosed area. Obsolete. rare.
- precinct1774The area within the boundaries (real or imaginary) of a particular place or building; the interior; the grounds; esp. the (consecrated) ground…
- encincture1849–The process of surrounding as with a girdle; the fact of being so surrounded: concrete an enclosure.
- zariba1885–transferred and figurative.
- d.1895–attributive.
- 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 - 1901
A succession of enclosures, each with a zareba wall.
H. Vivian, Abyssinia vii. 184
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot
Forms
Variant forms
Also seriba, sariba, zerybeh, zareba, zareeba, zer(r)iba, zereba.Frequency
zariba typically occurs about 0.02 times per million words in modern written English.
zariba is in frequency band 3, which contains words occurring between 0.01 and 0.1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands
Frequency of zariba, n., 1860–2010
* Occurrences per million words in written English
Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.
The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.
For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.
Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.
| Decade | Frequency per million words |
|---|---|
| 1860 | 0.082 |
| 1870 | 0.077 |
| 1880 | 0.077 |
| 1890 | 0.075 |
| 1900 | 0.078 |
| 1910 | 0.079 |
| 1920 | 0.067 |
| 1930 | 0.04 |
| 1940 | 0.034 |
| 1950 | 0.026 |
| 1960 | 0.019 |
| 1970 | 0.016 |
| 1980 | 0.016 |
| 1990 | 0.017 |
| 2000 | 0.014 |
| 2010 | 0.013 |
Compounds & derived words
- zariba, v. 1885–(transitive) to surround or enclose with a…