lair

Meaning

Noun

1. A place inhabited by a wild animal, often a cave or a hole in the ground.
2. A shed or shelter for domestic animals.
3. (figuratively) A place inhabited by a criminal or criminals, a superhero or a supervillain; a refuge, retreat, haven or hideaway.
4. (British, dialectal) A bed or resting place.
5. (Scotland) A grave; a cemetery plot.
6. A group where pickup artists meet to discuss and practise seduction techniques.

Verb

1. (British) To rest; to dwell.
2. (British) To lay down.
3. (British) To bury.

Verb

1. (Scotland, transitive) To mire.
2. (Scotland, intransitive) To become mired.

Synonyms

den

nest

hole

🕳️

burrow

nidus

cave

hideout

retreat

hideaway

sett

hangout

bed

🛏️

base

couch

🛋️

wallow

covert

layer

lodge

stratum

warren

breeding place

bandit’s den

criminal association

bag

thieves’ den

band

berth

bowl

box

📦

cavern

drey

earth

encampment

haunt

herd

hiding-place

hive

holt

home

🏠

lay

Translations

tanière

antre

guarida

tana

nid

Höhle

φωλιά

terrier

covo

Nest

lagern

κούρνια

λημέρι

gisement

Bau

Pronounced as (IPA)

/lɛə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: leir

Inherited from Old English: leġer

Cognate with Icelandic: leir

In summary

From Middle English leir, leire, lair, lare, from Old English leġer (“couch, bed”), from Proto-Germanic *legrą, from Proto-Indo-European *legʰ-.