berth

Berth, in general, refers to a space designated for occupancy or use. It has maritime and non-maritime senses. In ships and trains, a berth is a sleeping place; in ports, a berth is a docking location. The word can also function as a verb, meaning to place a vessel into its assigned docking position or to provide someone with a bed.

Maritime usage: a berth in a port is a specific spot where a vessel can moor to load and unload. Berths are along quays or alongside piers and are prepared with mooring points, fenders, and access to water and cargo handling facilities. Berth assignments are managed by harbor authorities and depend on vessel size, draft, and the port's layout. Berths may be numbered; the term is sometimes used interchangeably with "dock" in everyday language but is more precise about the space and mooring point rather than the structure itself.

Rail and shipboard usage: in rail transport, a berth is a sleeping place in a sleeper car, typically with a lower and an upper berth. In ships' cabins, a berth is a bed or bunk within the accommodation, which may be part of a cabin with multiple berths. The verb forms are "to berth" a vessel and "to be berthed" when it is moored.

The concept of berth thus spans shipping, rail travel, and accommodation, reflecting the general notion of a designated space for occupancy or docking.