Seal n.  Zool. Any aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Phocidae and Otariidae.
 Note: ☞ Seals inhabit seacoasts, and are found principally in the higher latitudes of both hemispheres. There are numerous species, bearing such popular names as sea lion, sea leopard, sea bear, or ursine seal, fur seal, and sea elephant. The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), and the ringed seal (Phoca foetida), are northern species. See also Eared seal, Harp seal, Monk seal, and Fur seal, under Eared, Harp, Monk, and Fur. Seals are much hunted for their skins and fur, and also for their oil, which in some species is very abundant.
 Harbor seal Zool., the common seal (Phoca vitulina). It inhabits both the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean, and often ascends rivers; -- called also marbled seal, native seal, river seal, bay seal, land seal, sea calf, sea cat, sea dog, dotard, ranger, selchie, tangfish.
 Har·bor n. [Written also harbour.]
 1. A station for rest and entertainment; a place of security and comfort; a refuge; a shelter.
    [A grove] fair harbour that them seems.   --Spenser.
    For harbor at a thousand doors they knocked.   --Dryden.
 2. Specif.: A lodging place; an inn. [Obs.]
 3. Astrol. The mansion of a heavenly body. [Obs.]
 4. A portion of a sea, a lake, or other large body of water, either landlocked or artificially protected so as to be a place of safety for vessels in stormy weather; a port or haven.
 5. Glass Works A mixing box for materials.
 Harbor dues Naut., fees paid for the use of a harbor.
 Harbor seal Zool., the common seal.
 Harbor watch, a watch set when a vessel is in port; an anchor watch.
 harbor seal
      n : small spotted seal of coastal waters of the northern
          hemisphere [syn: common seal, Phoca vitulina]