harem

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.

   "In the room next to her own, lived the harem of a merchant who had just arrived from Constantinople with merchandise. It consisted of his wife, children, and two female slaves, who being well off in their circumstances, enjoyed the comforts and conveniences of life, and eat and drank unsparingly every day.".

2. 2
   noun

   A group of female animals (cows) herded and controlled by a male animal (bull) of that species for breeding purposes. Such behaviour is exhibited by bovids including cattle and buffalo as well as moose, elephants, seals (including elephant seals), sea lions, and baboons.

   I nodded my head and proceeded to make a flank attack on the nearest harem. All went well until I aimed a blow at an outlying cow's head and fell short. She snorted and tried to scramble away. I ran in close and struck another blow, hitting the shoulder instead of the head.

3. 3
   noun

   A group of female birds mated to or associated with a breeding male.

   In the meantime we were hidden in a close juniper thicket on the little knoll, and expected the capercailzie cock every moment; but our old friend tarried a long time in his harem.

4. 4
   noun

   living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female relatives in a Muslim household

Simplified etymology

Harem entered English in the mid-17th century from Ottoman-era Arabic ḥarīm, the forbidden or restricted part of a house. The form developed from the same Arabic word family as haram, based on ḥarima “to be forbidden.”

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish حرم (harem) (whence Turkish harem), from Arabic حَرَم (ḥaram, “something prohibited; sanctuary, women”); and later also from حَرِيم (ḥarīm) with same meaning, both from حَرُمَ (ḥaruma, “be forbidden or unlawful”). Doublet of haram and herem.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary