dovecote

American

[duhv-koht] / ˈdʌvˌkoʊt /

Also dovecot

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.

dovecote British

/ ˈdʌvˌkɒt, ˈdʌvˌkəʊt /

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

Etymology

Origin of dovecote

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cole bought the Dovecote Café, where the pair sit, sight unseen.

From Washington Post • Jul. 27, 2021

Clemensia Dovecote: Many of the names in Ballad are ironic.

From Slate • May 22, 2020

The winners were announced in a ceremony at Dovecote Studios in Edinburgh on Saturday.

From BBC • Aug. 23, 2014

The winners will be announced in a ceremony on Saturday at Dovecote Studios in Edinburgh.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2014

The boat came hissing through the water toward the Dovecote, while I stretched away for the other snug cave.

From Mary Anerley : a Yorkshire Tale by Blackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023