[ark] n [ME, fr. OE arc, fr. L arca chest; akin to L arcere to hold off, defend, Gk arkein, Hitt hark- to have, hold] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a boat or ship held to resemble that in which Noah and his family were preserved from the Flood b: something that affords protection and safety
2. a: the sacred chest representing to the Hebrews the presence of God among them b: a repository traditionally in or against the wall of a synagogue for the scrolls of the Torah