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Definition of pigeon - 8 dictionary results

pi⋅geon

1[pij-uhn]
–noun
1. any bird of the family Columbidae, having a compact body and short legs, esp. the larger species with square or rounded tails. Compare dove 1 (def. 1).
2. a domesticated member of this family, as one of the varieties of the rock dove.
3. Slang.
a. a young, usually attractive, girl.
b. a person who is easily fooled or cheated; dupe.
4. Poker Slang. a card, acquired in the draw, that greatly improves a hand or makes it a winner.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME pejon young dove < MF pijon < LL pīpiōn- (s. of pīpiō) squab, akin to pīpīre, pīpāre to chirp

pi⋅geon

2[pij-uhn]
–noun
(not in technical use) pidgin; pidgin English.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pi·geon 1   (pĭj'ən)   
n.  
  1. Any of various birds of the widely distributed family Columbidae, characteristically having plump bodies, small heads, and short legs, especially the rock dove or any of its domesticated varieties.

  2. Slang One who is easily swindled; a dupe.


[Middle English, from Old French pijon, probably from Vulgar Latin *pībiō, pībiōn-, alteration of Late Latin pīpiō, young chirping bird, squab, from pīpīre, to chirp.]
pi·geon 2   (pĭj'ən)   
n.  An object of special concern; an affair or matter.

[Alteration of pidgin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
pigeon

  1. n.
    a dupe; a sucker; someone singled out to be cheated. (See also patsy.) : There's our pigeon now. Don't let him see us sizing him up.
  2. n.
    a good-looking girl or woman. : Who was the dreamy little pigeon I saw you with last night?

  3. Go to stool (pigeon). :
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

pigeon 
1211, from O.Fr. pijon "young dove," probably from V.L. *pibionem, dissimilation from L.L. pipionem "squab, young chirping bird" (3c.), acc. of L. pipio "chirping bird," from pipire "to peep, chirp," of imitative origin. Modern spelling is from later Fr. pigeon. Replaced culver (O.E. culufre, from V.L. *columbra, from L. columbula) and native dove. Pigeonhole (1577) was originally a small recess for pigeons to nest in. The verb sense of "label mentally" is from 1870. Pigeon-toed first recorded 1801 (of horses).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Pigeon

Pigeons are mentioned as among the offerings which, by divine appointment, Abram presented unto the Lord (Gen. 15:9). They were afterwards enumerated among the sin-offerings (Lev. 1:14; 12:6), and the law provided that those who could not offer a lamb might offer two young pigeons (5:7; comp. Luke 2:24). (See DOVE.)

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms & Phrases

pigeon

see clay pigeon; stool pigeon.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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