Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for berth on Thesaurus.com a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car. Nautical the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf. the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object. the position or rank of a ship's officer. the cabin of a ship's officer. a job; position. a place, listing, or role: She clinched a berth on our tennis team. Show More
Nautical to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up. to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage: The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats. to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train. Show More
verb (used without object) Nautical to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage. Show More
give a wide berth to , to shun; remain discreetly away from: Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses. Show More
Origin of berth 1615–25; probably
bear1 +
-th1 Related forms un·berth , verb (used with object) Can be confused berth birth Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for berth dock ,
wharf ,
port ,
spot ,
quay ,
cot ,
anchorage ,
billet ,
jetty ,
bed ,
levee ,
slip ,
bedroom ,
compartment ,
pier ,
haven ,
hammock ,
living ,
capacity ,
appointment Examples from the Web for berth Contemporary Examples of berth Only then would a racer likely get a chance at a World Cup berth , from the very back of the start list.
They arranged for a berth for Liebling on LCI(L)-88, one of the first large landing crafts scheduled to hit Omaha.
Historical Examples of berth I'm sorry for you an' the crew,' says he, 'an' I wisht I hadn't took the berth .
The schooner ahead of us had to cut, and she shifted her berth outside of us.
The ships did not get clear without some trouble, and we thought it wisest to shift our berth .
We thought it best to give these dare-devils a berth , and so we left them.
When we reached New York, our chief mate left us, and I was offered the berth .
British Dictionary definitions for berth a bed or bunk in a vessel or train, usually narrow and fixed to a wall nautical a place assigned to a ship at a mooring nautical sufficient distance from the shore or from other ships or objects for a ship to manoeuvre give a wide berth to to keep clear of; avoid nautical accommodation on a ship informal a job, esp as a member of a ship's crew Show More
(tr) nautical to assign a berth to (a vessel) nautical to dock (a vessel) (tr) to provide with a sleeping place, as on a vessel or train (intr) nautical to pick up a mooring in an anchorage Show More
Word Origin for berth C17: probably from bear 1 + -th 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for berth n. 1620s, "convenient sea room" (both for ships and sailors), of uncertain origin, probably from bear (v.) + abstract noun suffix -th (2) as in strength , health , etc. Original sense is preserved in phrase to give (something or someone) wide berth . Meaning "place on a ship to stow chests, room for sailors" is from 1706; extended to non-nautical situations by 1778.
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v. 1660s, of ships, from berth (n.). Of persons (intransitive), from 1886. Related: Berthed ; berthing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with berth see give a wide berth to.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
