A Lair Was Originally a Place to Lie Down
A lair is a wild animal's resting place. The word comes from the verb to lie.
A lair is the resting place or den of a wild animal. Old English *leger* meant simply a bed or place of lying, from the verb *licgan*, to lie — the same root as *lie*, *lay* and *ledge*. It applied to people before it narrowed to animals, and a *lair* could once be a grave. German *Lager*, a camp or store, is the same word, which is why *lager* beer is so called: it was stored to mature.
- An animal's den. *A fox's lair.*
- A hiding place. *A villain's lair.*
- A bed (archaic). *Leger.*
- Lager — the same root. *Lager.*
- Old English — *leger*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | lair | A lair. |
| Plural | lairs | Lairs. |
| Related | lie | To lie. |
| Related | ledge | A ledge. |
| German | Lager | A camp. |
- The wolf returned to its lair.Animal.
- Leger meant a bed.Etymology.
- Lager beer was stored.Connection.
The lying family
- Lie — to be in a horizontal position
- Lay — to place something down
- Lair — a place of lying
- Ledge — a place where something lies
- Lager — beer laid down to mature
Old English *leger*, a bed or lying place, from *licgan*, to lie.
Is lager related to lair?
Yes. German Lager means a store or camp, from the same root meaning to lie. Lager beer was laid down to mature.
Did lair always mean an animal's den?
No. It meant any place of lying, including a bed and sometimes a grave, before narrowing to animals.