1. (n.) Shelter or protection from danger or distress.

2. (n.) That which shelters or protects from danger, or from distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; a place inaccessible to an enemy.

3. (n.) An expedient to secure protection or defense; a device or contrivance.

4. (v. t.) To shelter; to protect.

alibi apology asylum blind bolt-hole cache citadel cloak color concealment corner cover cover story cover-up covert coverture cranny cubby cubbyhole dark corner defense den dernier ressort device dodge dugout evasion excuse expediency expedient eye facade feint foxhole front funk hole gloss guard guise handle harbor harborage haven hideaway hideout hidey hole hiding hiding place hole immunity lair lame excuse lee locus standi makeshift mask niche nook ostensible motive poor excuse port preservation pretense pretension pretext protection protective custody protestation public motive put-off receipt receiving reception recess recourse resort retreat ruse safekeeping safety sanctuary screen secret place security semblance shade shadow sham shelter shield shift show smoke screen stalking-horse stash stopgap stratagem stronghold substitute subterfuge taking in trick undercovert varnish veil watchful eye welcome welcoming