سَرَاةٌ
1.
The back (S, M, K) of anything: (S:) plural سَرَوَاتٌ: (S, M, K:) it has no broken plural (M.) And The higher, or highest, part of anything: (M in the present article, and K in article سرى:) so [for instance] of a mountain. (TA in article سرى.) [Hence,] سَرَاةُ اليَمَنِ, (M,) or السَّرَاةُ [by way of preeminence, for سَرَاة is prefixed to the names of a number of places and of tribes, as is said in the TA in article سرى], A certain mountain [or mountainous tract] commencing near 'Arafát and extending to Nejrán of El-Yemen: (Msb:) plural as above. (M.)
2.
The highest [or most advanced state] of the day: (TA:) [or] the state of advancement, when the sun has become somewhat high, (synonym اِرْتِفَاع,) of the day, (M, K, TA,) and so of other things; by some said to mean the middle thereof; (M;) so in the S, in relation to the day; but this is [said to be] a mistake: (TA:) in a verse of El-Bureyk El-Hudhalee, of the night: plural as above: and the singular also occurs used as a plural (M.)
3.
The middle of anything: plural as above. (S.) The middle and main part of a road; (Mgh, Msb;) the hard and elevated part thereof. (K.) It is said in a tradition, لَيْسَ لِلْنِّسَاءِ
سَرَوَاتُ الطَّرِيقِ (S, Mgh) The back and middle of the road, (S,) or the middle and main parts thereof, (Mgh,) are not for the women; meaning that they should walk upon the side parts. (S.)
4.
Accord. to Er-Rághib, A wide tract of land. (TA in article سرى.)