Harem

[hair-uh m, har-] /ˈhɛər əm, ˈhær-/

noun
1.
the part of a Muslim palace or house reserved for the residence of women.
2.
the women in a Muslim household, including the mother, sisters, wives, concubines, daughters, entertainers, and servants.
3.
Animal Behavior. a social group of females, as elephant seals, accompanied or followed by one fertile male who denies other males access to the group.
4.
Facetious: Sometimes Offensive. a group of women associated in any way with one man or household:
I really resent it when our boss refers to us as his harem, though he’s trying to be funny.
/ˈhɛərəm; hɑːˈriːm/
noun
1.
the part of an Oriental house reserved strictly for wives, concubines, etc
2.
a Muslim’s wives and concubines collectively
3.
a group of female animals of the same species that are the mates of a single male
n.

1630s, from Turkish harem, from Arabic haram “wives and concubines,” originally “women’s quarters,” literally “something forbidden or kept safe,” from root of harama “he guarded, forbade.”