ربع

رِبْعٌ ذ The ظِمْء [or interval between two water-ings, or keeping from water during that interval, ] which is meant in the phrase رَبَعَتِ الاـِبِلُ [q. v.]; (S;) a certain ظِمْء of camels, respecting which authors differ: (TA:) it is when camels are kept from the water three days [ counting two portions of days as one of those days ], or four days [ counting two portions of days as two days (for the difference is only verbal)], and three [ whole ] nights, and come to the water on the fourth day [ counting the day of the next preceding watering as the first ]; (K;) or [in other words] their coming to the water one day, and leaving it two days, and then coming to it on the fourth day; or a period of three [ whole ] nights and four days [ of which the first and last are incomplete ]; as is indicated in the K: or, as some say, [but this at variance with common usage,] their being kept from the water four [ nights (for the n. of number is here fem.)], and then coming to it on the fifth [ day (for the n. of number is here masc.)]. (TA.) You say, وَرَدَتِ الاـِبِلُ الرِّبْعَ: see رَبَعَتِ الاـِبِلُ. (S, K.) And وَرَدَتْ اـِبِلُهُ رِبْعًا: see 4. (S.) And أَوْرَدَ الاـِبِلَ رِبْعًا i. q. أَرْبَعَ الاـِبِلَ [q. v.]. (TA.) ― -b2- [Also, for سَيْرُ رِبْعٍ, A journey in which the camels are watered only on the first and fourth days. ] ― -b3- [In like manner,] with respect to fever, it signifies The seizing on one day and leaving two days and then coming again on the fourth day [ counting the day of the next preceding fit as the first ]. (S, K.) [The fever is termed] حُمَّى الرِّبْعِ [ The quartan fever; ] the fever that occurs on one day and intermits two days and then comes again on the fourth, and so on. (Msb.) And you say, جَاآءَتْهُ الحُمَّى رِبْعًا, i. q. رَبَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الحُمَّى [q. v.]. (K.) ― -b4- Also The fourth young one, or offspring. (A in art. ثلث.)