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dovecote

[duhv-koht]
noun
  1. a structure, usually at a height above the ground, for housing domestic pigeons.
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Idioms
  1. 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.
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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

  • 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).

  • 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
  1. 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
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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

n.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper