Serbonian

[ ser-boh-nee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating the large marshy tract of land in the northern part of ancient Egypt in which entire armies are said to have been swallowed up.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Serbonian¹

1660–70; < Greek Serbōní ( s ) ( límnē ) Serbonian (marsh) + -an

Example Sentences

An arctic night has dropped down upon the south; and in our dense blindness we know not in what direction lies the Serbonian bog.

From Project Gutenberg

The engineer himself was declared to have been swallowed up in the Serbonian bog; and “railways were at an end for ever!”

From Project Gutenberg

The first is deeper than the Serbonian bog, and would swallow up the whole British army.

From Project Gutenberg

This fell disease began between the Serbonian bog and the eastern channel of the Nile.

From Project Gutenberg

The eastern quarter of Tanis was dedicated to Ashtoreth as was a temple near by on the shores of the Serbonian lake.

From Project Gutenberg