pigeon

¹

[pij-uhn]

noun

1. any bird of the family Columbidae, having a compact body and short legs, especially the larger species with square or rounded tails.

2. a domesticated member of this family, as one of the varieties of the rock dove.

3. Slang.

   1. a young, usually attractive, girl.

   2. a person who is easily fooled or cheated; dupe.

4. Poker Slang.,  a card, acquired in the draw, that greatly improves a hand or makes it a winner.

pigeon

²

[pij-uhn]

noun

1. (not in technical use) pidgin; pidgin English.

pigeon

¹

/ ˈpɪdʒɪn /

noun

1. any of numerous birds of the family Columbidae, having a heavy body, small head, short legs, and long pointed wings: order Columbiformes See rock dove

2. slang,  a victim or dupe

pigeon

²

/ ˈpɪdʒɪn /

noun

1. informal,  concern or responsibility (often in the phrase it's his, her, etc, pigeon )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pigeon¹

1350–1400; Middle English pejon young dove < Middle French pijon < Late Latin pīpiōn- (stem of pīpiō ) squab, akin to pīpīre, pīpāre to chirp

Word History and Origins

Origin of pigeon¹

C14: from Old French pijon young dove, from Late Latin pīpiō young bird, from pīpīre to chirp

Origin of pigeon²

C19: altered from _pidgin

Idioms and Phrases

see clay pigeon; stool pigeon.

Example Sentences

A recent court ban on feeding pigeons in public spaces in the western Indian city of Mumbai has become a major flashpoint between civic bodies, public health activists and bird lovers.

From BBC

Prime Minister François Bayrou has put the cat among the pigeons in promising to cut two of France's national holidays in order to rescue the country's finances.

From BBC

Outside the market, feeding pigeons with her children, Diana said she'd been planning to vote for Simion until she saw a video from Paris just before the elections.

From BBC

The poor state of the hospital was also raised as repair and cleanliness was below expected standards, with several cases of pigeons being found in trauma theatres or on the theatre corridor.

From BBC

Exposure to constant bright light causes pigeons to lose their regular locomotor and feeding patterns, and goldfish that are normally active in daytime likewise lose their own consistent patterns of activity and rest.

From Salon

Related Words

• deceive 
• discriminate against www.thesaurus.com
• dupe 
• exploit 
• persecute 
• pick on 
• prey on 
• sting