/ leə(r); NAmE ler/ noun [ usually sing. ]
1.
a place where a wild animal sleeps or hides
2.
a place where sb goes to hide or to be alone
SYN den , hideout
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English leger resting place, bed , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leger bed, camp and German Lager storehouse, also to lie (I). Compare with laager and lager .