Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
SHELTER
I. noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1585
1. something that covers or affords protection , an establishment providing food and shelter (as to the homeless), an establishment that houses and feeds stray animals, a position or the state of being covered and protected , shelterless adjective
II. verb (sheltered; sheltering)
Date: 1590
transitive verb to constitute or provide a shelter for ; protect , to place under shelter or protection , to protect (income) from taxation, intransitive verb to take shelter, shelterer noun