dovecote

[duhv-koht]

noun

a structure, usually at a height above the ground, for housing domestic pigeons.

Idioms

flutter the dovecotes, to cause a stir in a quiet or conservative institution or group: The flamboyant manner of the tourists fluttered the dovecotes of the sleepy New England town.

Also dove·cot

[duhv-kot] /ˈdʌv kɒt/.

Origin of dovecote

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at dove¹, cote¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dovecote

Historical Examples of dovecote

Would my Lady think proper to allow a dovecote with silver pins?
A Forgotten Hero
Emily Sarah Holt
As soon as they were inside the dovecote, the two accomplices were not acquainted.
The Surprises of Life
Georges Clemenceau
I cannot ascertain the position of the rock Peristereon (dovecote).
Jerusalem Explored, Volume I--Text
Ermete Pierotti
See you later,' said Demi, swinging himself down at the door of the Dovecote.
Jo's Boys
Louisa May Alcott
The little kitchen, the poultry-house, the dovecote, were in ruins.
Strange True Stories of Louisiana
George Washington Cable

British Dictionary definitions for dovecote

dovecote

dovecot (ˈdʌvˌkɒt)

noun

a structure for housing pigeons, often raised on a pole or set on a wall, containing compartments for the birds to roost and lay eggs

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dovecote

early 15c., from dove (n.) + cote.