ربع

يَرْبُوعٌ ذ , in which the ى is augmentative, (Kr, S, Msb,) because there is not in the language of the Arabs any word of the measure فَعْلُولٌ, (Kr, S,) except what is extr., such as صَعْفُوقٌ, (K,) which is a foreign word [introduced into their language], (S in art. صعفق,) [The jerboa; ] a certain wellknown beast; (K;) a small beast like the فَأْرَة [or rat ], but longer in the tail and ears, and of which the hind legs are longer than the fore-legs, the reverse of what is the case in the زَرَافَة [or giraffe ]; called by the vulgar جَرْبُوع; (Msb;) a rat (فَأْرَة) of which the burrow has four entrances; Az says, it is a small beast larger than the جُرَذ, [q. v.; but in the L, in art. جرذ, the reverse of this is said;] and the name is applied alike to the male and the female: (TA:) [Forskål (“ Descr. Animalium, ” p. iv.,) terms it mus jaculus : see the questions appended to Niebuhr's “ Descr. de l' Arabie, ” p. 177:] pl. يَرَابِيعُ. (S, Msb.) [See ذُو الرُّمَيْحِ, voce رُمْحٌ.] ― -b2- Hence, (TA,) اليَرْبُوعُ also signifies لَحْمَةُ المَتْنِ (tropical:) [ The portion of flesh and sinew next the back-bone, on either side ]; (S * K;) as being likened to the فأَرة [thus called]: (TA:) or this is with damm [اليُرْبُوعُ]: (K:) or the يَرَابِيعُ of the مَتْن are its portions of flesh; (T, S, K;) and the word has no sing.: (K:) Az says, I have not heard any sing. thereof. (TA.)