The Collaborative International Dictionary
Berth \Berth\ (b[~e]rth), n. [From the root of bear to produce, like birth nativity. See Birth.] [Also written birth.]
-
(Naut.)
Convenient sea room.
A room in which a number of the officers or ship's company mess and reside.
The place where a ship lies when she is at anchor, or at a wharf.
An allotted place; an appointment; situation or employment. ``He has a good berth.''
--Totten.-
A place in a ship to sleep in; a long box or shelf on the side of a cabin or stateroom, or of a railway car, for sleeping in.
Berth deck, the deck next below the lower gun deck.
--Ham. Nav. Encyc.To give (the land or any object) a wide berth, to keep at a distance from it.
Usage examples of "a wide berth".
The wardens halted at once as they noticed Akeela, giving him a wide berth as he closed in on Jancis.
As they rode on, they gave the ruins a wide berth, and hailed them before dropping behind the next rise.
To-morrow I must clear out from Milford, and give it a wide berth in future.
Lightning flitted through the sky and made the figure pause for a moment, and then hurry onwards, revising his path to give the trees a wide berth.
He was being given a wide berth even by the Haaar-kyut, who averted their gazes, glaring even more darkly at the assembled mourners the better to cover their fear.
We lost three mules and six goats to lopers, but the lopers got the news and started giving us a wide berth.
We - lost three mules and six goats to lopers, but the lopers got the - news and started giving us a wide berth.