lair

¹

[ lair ]

noun

1. a den or resting place of a wild animal:

   The cougar retired to its lair.

2. a secluded or hidden place, especially a secret retreat or base of operations; a hideout or hideaway:

   a pirate's lair.

3. British. a place in which to lie or rest; a bed.

verb (used with object)

1. to place in a lair.
2. to serve as a lair for.

verb (used without object)

1. to go to, lie in, or have a lair.

lair

²

[ lair ]

noun

1. British Dialect. mud; mire.

verb (used without object)

1. Scot. to sink or stick in mud or mire.

lair

³

[ lair ]

noun

, Chiefly Scot.

1. lore; learning.

lair

⁴

[ lair ]

noun

, Australian Informal.

1. a man who dresses garishly and is crude or vulgar; show-off.

lair

¹

/ lɛə /

noun

1. a flashy man who shows off

verb

1. intr; foll by up or around to behave or dress like a lair

lair

²

/ lɛə /

noun

1. the resting place of a wild animal
2. informal.
   a place of seclusion or hiding
3. an enclosure or shed for farm animals
4. the ground for a grave in a cemetery

verb

1. intr (esp of a wild animal) to retreat to or rest in a lair
2. tr to drive or place (an animal) in a lair

lair

³

/ ler /

noun

1. a Scot word for mire

Word History and Origins

Origin of lair¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English leir(e), lair, lare, Old English leger; cognate with Dutch, Old High German leger “bed, camp,” Afrkaans laager “defensive circle of wagons,” German Lager “storehouse”; akin to lie ²

Origin of lair²

First recorded in 1300–50; verb use of Middle English lair “clay, mire,” from Old Norse leir ”clay, mud”

Origin of lair³

Middle English lōre, laire (north and Scots lare, lere ), Old English lār “teaching, instruction”; lore ¹

Origin of lair⁴

First recorded in 1930–35; back formation from lairy

Word History and Origins

Origin of lair¹

perhaps from leer

Origin of lair²

Old English leger; related to lie ² and Old High German leger bed

Origin of lair³

from Old Norse leir mud

Example Sentences

Princess Kouragine said, "Il a l'air comme tout le monde, plutt comme un mdecin de campagne."

From Project Gutenberg

Il a infiniment l'air d'un hros de roman, thought she, and Belinda is not quite so great a philosopher as I imagined.

From Project Gutenberg

Cessons donc de nous esbahir s'ils ont un pied en l'air et l'œil en la campagne.

From Project Gutenberg

Out of this circumstance grew the proverb or popular saying, "Avoir l'air de revenir de Pontoise."

From Project Gutenberg

Le laid est beau et le beau laid Allons flotter dans la brume, Allons faire le tour du monde, Dans la brume et l'air immonde.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hideaway