/si ral"yoh, -rahl"-/ , n. , pl. seraglios .
1. the part of a Muslim house or palace in which the wives and concubines are secluded; harem.
2. a Turkish palace, esp. of the sultan. Also called serail /seuh ruy", -ruyl", -rayl"/ .
[ 1575-85; serraglio
saray palace; sense development in It perh. influenced by serrare to lock up ]