Harem

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Harem \Ha"rem\ (h[=a]"r[e^]m; 277), n.[Ar. haram, orig.,
     anything forbidden or sacred, fr. harama to forbid,
     prohibit.] [Written also haram and hareem.]
     1. The apartments or portion of the house allotted to females
        in Mohammedan families.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. The family of wives and concubines belonging to one man,
        in Mohammedan countries; a seraglio.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  harem
       n : living quarters reserved for wives and concubines and female
           relatives in a Muslim household [syn: {hareem}, {seraglio},
            {serail}]