harem

plural harems · alternative archaic harim · alternative obsolete hareem

1. countableuncountableThe private section of a Muslim household forbidden to male strangers.First known use 1841

   1 more example

   "In the room next to her own, lived the harem of a merchant who had just arrived from Constantinople with merchandise. It consisted of his wife, children, and two female slaves, who being well off in their circumstances, enjoyed the comforts and conveniences of life, and eat and drank unsparingly every day."

   1841, James Justinian Morier, The Mirza, volume 3, page 153

2. countableuncountableA group of someone's girlfriends, wives and/or concubines in a polygamous household.
3. countableuncountableA group of female animals (cows) herded and controlled by a male animal (bull) of that species for breeding purposes. Such behaviour is exhibited by bovids including cattle and buffalo as well as moose, elephants, seals (including elephant seals), sea lions, and baboons.First known use 1911

   2006 Maestripieri, Dario; Mayhew, Jessica; Carlson, Cindy L.; Hoffman, Christy L.; and Radtke, Jennifer M. "One-Male Harems and Female Social Dynamics in Guinea Baboons", published in Folia Primatol 2007; 78:56–68, doi 10.1159/000095686

   1 more example

   I nodded my head and proceeded to make a flank attack on the nearest harem. All went well until I aimed a blow at an outlying cow's head and fell short. She snorted and tried to scramble away. I ran in close and struck another blow, hitting the shoulder instead of the head.

   1904, Jack London, chapter 30, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC

4. countableuncountablebiologyA group of female birds mated to or associated with a breeding male.

   In the meantime we were hidden in a close juniper thicket on the little knoll, and expected the capercailzie cock every moment; but our old friend tarried a long time in his harem.

   1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 90

5. countableslanguncountableAny significant number of women together as a group; a bevy.
6. uncountableA genre of anime and manga in which a man is the love interest of three or more women.