Harbor definition
An example of harbor is hiding a person wanted by the police.
An example of harbor is to hold onto the causes of an old family feud.
An example of harbor is a home for abused women.
An example of harbor is a port where someone can tie up their boat.
A harbor, even if it is a little harbor, is a good thing, since adventurers come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world, and has something to give in return - Sarah Orne Jewett.
The neighborhood is a well-known harbor for petty thieves.
The docks, which once harbored tall ships, now harbor only petty thieves.
The fleet harbored in the south.
She harbors a conviction that her husband has a secret, criminal past.
Harbor refugees; harbor a fugitive.
Harbor a grudge.
To harbor a grudge.
A basement that harbors a maze of pipes; streams that harbor trout and bass.
Origin of harbor
- Middle English herberwe probably from Old English herebeorg lodging koro- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English herberwe, herberge, from Old English herebeorg ‘military quarters, hostelry’, from Proto-Germanic *harjabergō (compare West Frisian herberch ‘inn’, Dutch herberg ‘id.’, German Herberge ‘id.’), compound of *harjaz ‘army’ and *bergō ‘refuge, shelter’, deverbative of *ƀerʒanan ‘to protect, shelter’ (compare Old English beorgan). More at harry and bury.
From Wiktionary