I. ˈhär-bər noun
Etymology: Middle English herberge, herberwe, from Old English herebeorg military quarters, from here army (akin to Old High German heri ) + beorg refuge; akin to Old English burg fortified town — more at harry , borough
Date: 12th century
1. : a place of security and comfort : refuge
2. : a part of a body of water protected and deep enough to furnish anchorage ; especially : one with port facilities
• har·bor·ful -ˌfu̇l noun
• har·bor·less -ləs adjective
II. verb
( har·bored ; har·bor·ing -b(ə-)riŋ)
Date: 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to give shelter or refuge to
b. : to be the home or habitat of
the ledges still harbor rattlesnakes
broadly : contain 2
2. : to hold especially persistently in the mind : cherish
harbor ed a grudge
intransitive verb
1. : to take shelter in or as if in a harbor
2. : live
• har·bor·er -bər-ər noun