from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Berth \Berth\ (b[~e]rth), n. [From the root of bear to produce,
like birth nativity. See {Birth}.] [Also written {birth}.]
[1913 Webster]
1. (Naut.)
(a) Convenient sea room.
(b) A room in which a number of the officers or ship's
company mess and reside.
(c) The place where a ship lies when she is at anchor, or
at a wharf.
[1913 Webster]
2. An allotted place; an appointment; situation or
employment. "He has a good berth." --Totten.
[1913 Webster]
3. A place in a ship to sleep in; a long box or shelf on the
side of a cabin or stateroom, or of a railway car, for
sleeping in.
[1913 Webster]
{Berth deck}, the deck next below the lower gun deck. --Ham.
Nav. Encyc.
{To give} (the land or any object) {a wide berth}, to keep at
a distance from it.
[1913 Webster]