noun
- something that covers or protects; protection, or place affording protection, as from the elements or danger
- the state of being covered or protected; protection; refuge
- any of various places for providing food and lodging on a temporary or emergency basis, as one for the homeless or one for stray pets
Origin:
prob. < ME scheltroun, earlier scheltrum < OE sceldtruma, lit., shield troop, body of men protected by interlocked shields < scield (see shield) + truma, an array, troop; akin to trum, strong: (see trim)
transitive verb
to provide shelter or refuge for; protect
intransitive verb
to find protection or refuge