ندب

مَنْدَبٌ ذ A place to which one is called, summoned, or invited. Hence بَابُ المَنْدَبِ [The Strait Báb el-Mendeb, or The Strait of the Place of Summons: ] so called because a certain king summoned a number of men to break through the mountain there, which originally opposed a barrier to the sea, in order to drown his enemy; and this they did, thus overwhelming with the waters many cities and towns with their inhabitants, and forming the sea which intervenes between El-Yemen and Abyssinia, and which extends to 'Eydháb and Kuseyr [&c.]. (Yaakoot.) This king was Alexander the Greek! (TA.) [It is probable that the appearance of the Strait gave rise to this story, and thus to its name: but it is also probable that the name may signify The Strait of the Place of Wailing for the Dead; as many perish who go forth from it.]