zeriba/zəˈɹiːbə/EtymologyBorrowed from Arabic زَرِيبَة (zarība, “pen, cattle pen”).nounA fence of the type once commonly improvised in northeastern Africa from thornbushes.“On the left shore two neat farmyards shew themselves in a shining seriba of reeds, the stalks of which are connected very regularly with each other, but perhaps only afford resistance to tame animals.”An improvised stockade, particularly those similarly located and constructed.“The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) advanced this morning to Baker Pasha’s zariba.”A camp of troops employing such an enclosure.“[…] forming a zariba, or square, to resist cavalry.”Any wild and barbed barrier, evocative of a briar or thorn patch.“Once you had passed the initial zareba of fruit stands, souvenir stands, ice-cream stands, and the lair of the enthusiast whose aim in life it was to sell you picture postal-cards, and had won through to the long walk where the seats were, you were practically alone with Nature.”verbTo erect or take refuge within a zeriba.“[…] the Brigadier ordered the force to zereba on the best position that was near.”