Archaeology. a rock shelter formed by the overhang of a cliff and often containing prehistoric occupation deposits.
Origin: < French,Old French, noun derivative of abrier (now obsolete or dial.) to shelter, shield, screen < Late Latinaprīcāre to warm in the sun (hence, to shield from wind, cold, etc.), verbal derivative of Latinaprīcus sunny, warmed by the sunshine; Old Frenchb for v perhaps < Old Provençalabriar, or by construal of a- as prefix