turtledove

The definition of a turtledove is a type of pigeon known for cooing and making a soft purring sound.

(noun)

An example of a turtledove is the bird in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

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See turtledove in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. any of several Old World wild doves (esp. genus Streptopelia) noted for their plaintive cooing and the affection that the mates are traditionally thought of as showing toward each other
  2. mourning dove

Origin: ME < OE turtle, turtla < L turtur, of echoic orig.

See turtledove in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A small, slender European dove (Streptopelia turtur) having a white-edged tail and a soft purring voice.
  2. See mourning dove.
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