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pigeonhole

[pij-uh n-hohl]
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noun
  1. one of a series of small, open compartments, as in a desk, cabinet, or the like, used for filing or sorting papers, letters, etc.
  2. a hole or recess, or one of a series of recesses, for pigeons to nest in.
  3. Also called pigeon hole, white hole. Printing. white space created by setting words or lines too far apart.
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verb (used with object), pi·geon·holed, pi·geon·hol·ing.
  1. to assign to a definite place or to definite places in some orderly system: to pigeonhole new ideas.
  2. to lay aside for use or reference at some later, indefinite time: We must pigeonhole this excellent plan until the time is ripe.
  3. to put aside for the present, especially with the intention of ignoring or forgetting, often indefinitely: to pigeonhole an unwanted invitation.
  4. to place in or as if in a pigeonhole or pigeonholes: to pigeonhole papers.
  5. to fit or provide with pigeonholes: The desk must be pigeonholed for all my papers.
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Origin of pigeonhole

First recorded in 1570–80; pigeon1 + hole

Synonyms

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4. categorize, catalog. 5. file. 6. postpone, shelve.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pigeon-hole

Historical Examples

  • The Caucasian God was taken out of His pigeon-hole and publicly recognised.

    The Conquest of Fear

    Basil King

  • But the ways of men who could pigeon-hole a recommendation like that are difficult to understand.

  • I declare, if that mouse didn't knock a letter out of the pigeon-hole!

  • Every pigeon-hole had been ransacked and the contents were piled up in a confused heap.

    The Green Rust

    Edgar Wallace

  • Now into what pigeon-hole of my brain did that go, and why do I suddenly remember it now?

British Dictionary definitions for pigeon-hole

pigeonhole

noun
  1. a small compartment for papers, letters, etc, as in a bureau
  2. a hole or recess in a dovecote for pigeons to nest in
  3. informal a category or classification
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verb (tr)
  1. to put aside or defer
  2. to classify or categorize, esp in a rigid manner
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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 pigeon-hole

n.

also pigeonhole, 1570s, "a small recess for pigeons to nest in," from pigeon + hole (n.). Meaning "a compartment in a writing desk," etc. is from 1680s, based on resemblance. The verb is from 1840 literally; figurative sense of "label mentally" is from 1870.

[Y]ou will have an inspector after you with note-book and ink-horn, and you will be booked and pigeon-holed for further use when wanted. ["Civilisation--The Census," "Blackwood's Magazine," Oct. 1854]

Related: Pigeonholed.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper