Etymology
Inherited from Middle French abri, from Old French abri (“a place where one is sheltered from the elements or harm”), from abrier (“to cover”), from Late Latin abrigō (“to cover, shelter”), from a- + brigō, from Frankish *birīgan, *birīhan (“to cover, protect”), from Frankish *bi- (“be-”) + *wrīhan, from Proto-Germanic *wrīhaną (“to cover, clothe”), from Proto-Indo-European *werḱ-, *werǵ- (“to twist, weave, tie together”). Cognate with Old High German birīhan (“to cover”), Old English bewrēon (“to cover, enwrap, protect”).
Late Latin abrigare may have also crossed with Old Frankish *bergan (“to take care of, protect, hide”), from Proto-Germanic *berganą (“to care for”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to take care”), due to similarity in form and meaning.[1] If so, this would relate the word also to Old High German bergan (“to shelter”) (German bergen) and Old English beorgan (“to save, preserve”). More at bury and borrow.
Noun
abri m (plural abris)
- a shelter or refuge against the elements or physical danger
1996, Noir Désir, À ton étoile:Si tu cherches un abri inaccessible dis-toi qu’il n’est pas loin- If you are searching for an inaccessible refuge tell yourself that it is not too far
References
Diez, An etymological dictionary of the Romance languages; chiefly from the German, "Abrigo."