A shaded garden shelter formed by trees, shrubs, or climbing vines growing over a framework, or a leafy retreat in a garden.
From Old French 'herber,' derived from Latin 'herba' (grass or herb), though influenced by association with 'arbor' (tree). Originally meant a grass plot, but evolved to mean a shaded garden shelter.
The shift from 'herb garden' to 'tree shelter' shows how words follow culture—as medieval gardens became more elaborate, the word's meaning grew to match the fancier structures people were building.
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