pigeon Hear it!

pigeon¹ Definition

pi·geon (pij′ən)

noun pl. -·geons or -·geon

  1. any of a family (Columbidae, order Columbiformes) of birds with a small head, plump body, long, pointed wings, and short legs
  2. ☆ clay pigeon
  3. a girl or young woman
  4. Slang a person easily deceived or gulled; dupe

Etymology: ME pejon < MFr pijon < LL pipio (gen. pipionis), chirping bird, squab < L pipire, to chirp, of echoic orig.

pigeon² Definition

pi·geon (pij′ən)

noun

pidgin: a spelling not used technically by linguists

pigeon² Idioms

one's pigeon

Chiefly Brit., Slang one's special concern, or business

pigeon Synonyms

pigeon

n.

dove, culver, columba (Latin), squab; see bird 1.

Types of pigeons include: mourning dove, ground dove, rock dove, turtledove, ringdove, stock dove; carrier, pouter, homing, fantail, rock, wood, passenger, Cape, bronze-wing, crowned, fruit, red-billed, tooth-billed pigeon.

pigeon Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • feed: Chaplin, with a small child, is feeding pigeons.
  • deter: There are a number of pigeon proofing devices which can be used to prevent or deter pigeons from roosting or nesting on your property.
  • shoot: I said I'm going up the woods, going to shoot pigeons up the woods.
  • hole: There are some software packages that cannot easily be pigeon holed into one of the above groups.
  • chase: D chases pigeons; finds empty crisp packet & makes own fountain.

Adjective modifier

  • feral: The feral pigeon can now be found in cities worldwide.
  • endemic: Bolle's Laurel pigeon: By far the easiest of the two endemic pigeons to find.
  • dead: In addition dead pigeons in uncovered water tanks can contaminate the water supply.

Modifies a noun

  • shooting: From clay pigeon shooting, to golf days, to team building to spa weekends, we really do cover all areas.
  • fancier: Pigeon fanciers, of course, are inclined to disagree.
  • droppings: K's are making every effort to remove pigeon droppings prior to games.
  • loft: Note the round entrance to the " pigeon loft " in the gable.
  • hole: Do you dare Can you dare To pigeon hole me With the rest of common clay?
  • shooter: An Olympic shooter spoke, followed by a clay pigeon shooter.

Noun used with modifier

  • homing: Pigeons - are racing / homing pigeons economic activities?
  • clay: From clay pigeon shooting, to golf days, to team building to spa weekends, we really do cover all areas.
  • carrier: There is an unusual memorial to wartime carrier pigeons surrounded by a carpet bed.
  • stool: Whilst at DERNA all the officer prisoners suspected the presence of a " stool pigeon " .
  • wood: Wood pigeons have been seen taking ripe beech seeds high up on the tall trees.
  • racing: The affected birds were feral pigeons, and a few lost racing pigeons, and so are unlikely to have been eaten.