pigeon

[ pij-uhn ]

/ ˈpɪdʒ ən /

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See synonyms for: pigeon / pigeons on Thesaurus.com

noun

any bird of the family Columbidae, having a compact body and short legs, especially the larger species with square or rounded tails.Compare dove¹ (def. 1).

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

Slang.

a young, usually attractive, girl.
a person who is easily fooled or cheated; dupe.

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

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Origin of pigeon

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pigeon

pidgin, pigeon

Words nearby pigeon

Pigalle, pig bed, pigboat, pig boiling, pig dog, pigeon, pigeon blood, pigeon breast, pigeon drop, pigeon hawk, pigeon-hearted

Other definitions for pigeon (2 of 2)

pigeon²

[ pij-uhn ]

/ ˈpɪdʒ ən /

noun

(not in technical use) pidgin; pidgin English.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use pigeon in a sentence

Two centuries ago, anyone who wrote an ill-advised post or sent a “bad tweet” would have had to out-gallop a Pony Express rider or figure out how to trap a very determined pigeon.
How to save important photos and video from the web|John Kennedy|January 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Use high-quality bird seed — not bread, even for ducks and pigeons — tailored to the species you want to tempt.
A concise guide to birding in your own backyard|Erin E. Williams|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
The passenger pigeon was once the most abundant bird in North America — maybe even on the planet.
Around the world, birds are in crisis|Alison Pearce Stevens|December 3, 2020|Science News For Students
Around the same time, Varahn noticed that the woman who fed the pigeons had also disappeared.
“We Don’t Even Know Who Is Dead or Alive”: Trapped Inside an Assisted Living Facility During the Pandemic|by Ava Kofman|November 30, 2020|ProPublica

I like my pigeons and my fancy clothes, but other than that, I don’t want anything.
Mike Tyson fought for the first time in 15 years. So much had changed.|Gene Wang|November 29, 2020|Washington Post
Instead she played herself out, pigeon-holing herself into the very kind of characters she criticized Apatow for writing.
It’s Time to Stop Hating Katherine Heigl|Kevin Fallon|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Wood pigeon, pheasant, partridge, grouse, peacocks, hares, wild rabbits, and waterfowl are all dietary staples.
Edible Taxidermy: It’s a Good Thing|Lizzie Crocker|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the first stories I ever did for The Times Magazine was about pigeon control “Pigeon Wars.”
Mississippi Hippos, Teddy Bears, and Other Strange Beasts|Scott Porch|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For her inaugural menu, she planned crayfish with mayonnaise, pigeon with peas, and an apple brioche flambéed in rum.
The Queen of the French Kitchen|Katie Baker|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another notable region is nicknamed “Pigeon Valley” for the thousands of bird nesting holes dug into the pliable rock.
The Secret Life of Cappadocia: Underground in the Turkish Rock Formations|Nina Strochlic|August 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The "pigeon house" stood behind a locked gate, and a shallow parterre that had been somewhat neglected.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
After she was far away she looked back and saw a pigeon resting on the shoulder of the statue.
Honey-Bee|Anatole France
Again he accompanied her back to her home; and it was after dusk when they reached the little "pigeon-house."
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
And Fleetfoot played with Pigeon, and he showed her how to lift hot stones without getting burned.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp
Pigeon screamed again, but a hearty laugh from Chew-chew showed there was nothing to fear.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp

British Dictionary definitions for pigeon (1 of 2)

pigeon¹

/ (ˈpɪdʒɪn) /

noun

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

slang a victim or dupe

Word Origin for pigeon

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

British Dictionary definitions for pigeon (2 of 2)

pigeon²

/ (ˈpɪdʒɪn) /

noun

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

Word Origin for pigeon

C19: altered from pidgin

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pigeon

pigeon

see clay pigeon; stool pigeon.

pigeon

Origin of pigeon

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pigeon

Words nearby pigeon

Other definitions for pigeon (2 of 2)

Words related to pigeon

How to use pigeon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pigeon (1 of 2)

Word Origin for pigeon

British Dictionary definitions for pigeon (2 of 2)

Word Origin for pigeon

Other Idioms and Phrases with pigeon