abri
9.9
A natural rock shelter where people lived long ago
- noun
- /əˈbri/
- Specialized
:
antra
- The living space of these people was the area beneath a huge overhanging shelf jutting out of the limestone cliff, an abri that provided protection from rain or snow but was open to daylight.
Examples
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The archaeologists discovered an ancient abri where early humans lived during the Ice Age.
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The cave served as an abri for prehistoric tribes, offering shelter from harsh weather conditions.
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In the mountains, we found a natural abri that made for a great campsite during our hike.
Synonyms
9.9
A natural cave in rock that forms an underground chamber
is a shallow rock overhang used as a dwelling rather than a deep cave
How Protective
Surface Forms
Etymology
Abri comes from the French word abri, which means 'shelter' and from the verb abriter 'to shelter'. Long ago people used rock overhangs as simple places to stay, so abri also means a natural rock shelter where early humans lived and left paintings.