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give a wide berth to

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berth

[burth]
–noun
1. a shelflike sleeping space, as on a ship, airplane, or railroad car.
2. Nautical.
a. the space allotted to a vessel at anchor or at a wharf.
b. the distance maintained between a vessel and the shore, another vessel, or any object.
c. the position or rank of a ship's officer.
d. the cabin of a ship's officer.
3. a job; position.
4. a place, listing, or role: She clinched a berth on our tennis team.
–verb (used with object)
5. Nautical.
a. to allot to (a vessel) a certain space at which to anchor or tie up.
b. to bring to or install in a berth, anchorage, or moorage: The captain had to berth the ship without the aid of tugboats.
6. to provide with a sleeping space, as on a train.
–verb (used without object)
7. Nautical. to come to a dock, anchorage, or moorage.
8. give a wide berth to, to shun; remain discreetly away from: Since his riding accident, he has given a wide berth to skittish horses.

Origin:
1615–25; prob. bear 1 + -th 1


4. spot, slot, position, post, niche, appointment.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Word Origin & History

berth 
1622, "convenient sea room" (both for ships and sailors), of uncertain origin, probably related to bear (v). Original sense is preserved in phrase to give (something or someone) wide berth. Meaning "place on a ship to stow chests, room for sailors" is from 1706; extended to non-nautical situations 1778.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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