mar·a·bout 1 
(mărə-b′, -bt′)
(mărə-b′, -bt′)n.
1. A Muslim hermit or saint, especially in northern Africa.
2. The tomb of such a hermit or saint.
[French, from Portuguese marabuto, from Arabic murābiṭ, posted, stationed, marabout, participle of rābaṭa, to be posted, derived stem of rabaṭa, to bind, tie; see rbṭ in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]