berth

 
Pronunciation: /bəːθ/

noun

  • 1a ship’s allotted place at a wharf or dock: the vessel had left its berth
  • 2a fixed bunk on a ship, train, or other means of transport: I’ll sleep in the upper berth [in combination]: a four-berth caravan
  • 3 informal (often in a sporting context) a position in an organization or event: he looked at home in an unfamiliar right-back berth

verb

[with object]
  • 1moor (a ship) in its allotted place: they planned to berth HMS Impregnable at Portsmouth
  • [no object] (of a ship) dock: the ship berthed at Plymouth
  • 2(of a passenger ship) provide a sleeping place for (someone).

Phrases

give someone/thing a wide berth

steer a ship well clear of something while passing it: ships are advised to give the islands a wide berth
stay away from someone or something: I’d sworn to give women a wide berth

Origin:

early 17th century (in the sense 'adequate sea room'): probably from a nautical use of bear1 + -th2

Do not confuse birth with berth. Birth means 'the emergence of a baby from the womb' ( he weighed six pounds at birth), while berth means 'a place in a harbour for a ship,' or 'a bunk in a ship or other means of transport' ( a four-berth caravan).