ardeb

American  

[ahr-deb] / ˈɑr dɛb /

noun

1. a unit of capacity used for dry measure in Egypt and neighboring countries, officially equivalent in Egypt to 5.62 U.S. bushels, but varying greatly in different localities.

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ardeb British  

/ ˈɑːdɛb /

noun

1. a unit of dry measure used in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. In Egypt it is approximately equal to 0.195 cubic metres

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Etymology

Origin of ardeb

1860–65; < dialectal Arabic ardabb ≪ Aramaic 'rdb, perhaps < Old Persian; compare Egyptian Demotic 'rtb, late Akkadian ardabu, Elamite irtiba, Syriac 'arṭba, Greek artábē, Arabic 'irdabb ≪ Aramaic

Example Sentences

Under Nebuchadnezzar we find 12 qas, or the third part of an ardeb, of sesame sold for half a shekel, which would make the cost of a single quart a little more than a penny.

From Babylonians and Assyrians, Life and Customs by Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry)

The ardeb, like most measures in this country of commercial confusion, varies greatly according to the grain for which it is used.

From Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah — Volume 1 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

In Dongola and Berber the price of dhurra rose to one hundred dollars an ardeb.

From Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp 1882-1892 by Wingate, F. R.

Soon the price per ardeb rose from twelve to twenty dollars, and latterly to sixty dollars.

From Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp 1882-1892 by Wingate, F. R.

The ardeb is equal to about 5 bushels, and is divided into 6 waybas, and each wayba into 24 rubas.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 1 "Edwardes" to "Ehrenbreitstein" by Various