Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

abri

noun
\ ȧbrē\
plural abris\ -​ē(z) \

Definition of abri

: shelter especially : a dugout or cavity in a hillside

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of abri

1761, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for abri

borrowed from French, going back to Old French, noun derivative of abrier “to shelter, protect,” going back to Late Latin aprīcāre “to expose to the sun (and hence protect from wind, cold, etc.), ” alteration of the Latin deponent verb aprīcārī “to sun oneself, bask in the sunshine,” derivative of aprīcus “exposed to the sun, sunny”

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about abri

Statistics for abri

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for abri

The first known use of abri was in 1761

See more words from the same year

Comments on abri

What made you want to look up abri? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

scavenger

Listen to the pronounciation of scavenger

one that collects or salvages junk

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

  • time traveler quiz which word came first
  • Which came first?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games