small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
"The weary travelers retired to their cramped cabin aboard the ocean liner before dawn."
a small house built of wood; usually in a wooded area
"They spent the weekend relaxing in a cozy wooden cabin nestled deep within the forest."
the enclosed compartment of an aircraft or spacecraft where passengers are carried
"The pilot instructed all passengers to return to their cabin before landing."
A small dwelling characteristic of the frontier, especially when built from logs with simple tools and not constructed by professional builders, but by those who meant to live in it.
"The pioneers hauled timber together to build a sturdy log cabin where they could raise their families away from civilization."
In plain English: A cabin is a small house, often made of wood and found in forests or near lakes.
"The family spent their summer vacation in a small wooden cabin by the lake."
Usage: Use this word to describe a rustic log hut found on frontiers rather than modern vacation homes made of wood paneling. Do not use it as a verb meaning "to isolate" unless you specifically mean placing someone inside such a structure.
confine to a small space, such as a cabin
"The storm forced the crew to be confined to their cramped quarters below deck."
To place in a cabin or other small space.
"The crew had to stow all their luggage in the cramped storage area before boarding the ferry."
In plain English: To cabin means to lock someone up inside so they cannot escape.
"The old house began to creak and groan in the wind until it finally caved into pieces."
The word "cabin" comes from the Old French cabane, which was borrowed into Middle English as caban. It originally meant a small hut or shelter, much like its current definition.