dovecote

American  

[duhv-koht] / ˈdʌvˌkoʊt /

Also dovecot

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.

dovecote British  

/ ˈdʌvˌkɒt, ˈdʌvˌkəʊt /

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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Etymology

Origin of dovecote

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; dove ¹, cote ¹

Example Sentences

But his latest, Manhunt, which premieres on Netflix on May 4th, has a moment when a careening car approaches a dovecote filled with birds ready for their big moment.

From The Verge

Her question reflected a conventional Republican gripe, namely that the State Department is a cooing dovecote, full of apologists for Abroad.

From Economist

Behind the inn, he has recast a cooling tower as a large dovecote.

From Washington Post

Surrounding the sanctuaries were mud-brick houses several storeys high, some with dovecotes on their roofs.

From The Guardian

The house, which has been appraised at $8.5 million, contains a chapel, an observatory, a wine cellar, a weaponry room, a ballroom and a dovecote.

From New York Times