carrier pigeon
noun
1
: a pigeon used to carry messages
especially
: homing pigeon
2
: any of a breed of large long-bodied show pigeons
Examples of carrier pigeon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
During World War I and World War II, carrier pigeons were used to transport secret messages from combat zones to their home coops.
—
Cathy Free, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
These supplies, ranging from M-4 tanks, 240-mm howitzers and flame throwers, to bazookas, razor blades, and carrier pigeon free, were moved by ships on a rigid timetable.
—Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 6 June 2021
The foregoing alternative: point-to-point claim submission via carrier pigeon.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The royal family has owned pigeons at Sandringham for decades, according to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association — which notes that pigeons from the royal loft were used as carrier pigeons to deliver messages during World War I and World War II before returning to racing.
—Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
In the Internet age, the American footie fans who once survived on scraps—the Bundesliga highlights that popped up late at night on PBS, the news that made its way across the Atlantic via word of mouth and carrier pigeon—have become voracious and sophisticated connoisseurs of the global game.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 23 July 2023
Animals were everywhere during World War I. Sixteen million non-human animals were sent into the service: trench dogs that hunted rats; carrier pigeons; and even a baboon named Jackie, who served as a private in the Third South African Infantry Regiment.
—Nick Yetto, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2023
Charles Manson Sent by carrier pigeon.
—Katie Barsotti, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2022
If the current trend continues, many sturgeon species could follow the morbid example of the carrier pigeon, which was hunted to extinction by European American settlers.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2022
Cathy Free, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024
These supplies, ranging from M-4 tanks, 240-mm howitzers and flame throwers, to bazookas, razor blades, and carrier pigeon free, were moved by ships on a rigid timetable.
—Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 6 June 2021
The foregoing alternative: point-to-point claim submission via carrier pigeon.
—Seth Joseph, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The royal family has owned pigeons at Sandringham for decades, according to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association — which notes that pigeons from the royal loft were used as carrier pigeons to deliver messages during World War I and World War II before returning to racing.
—Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
In the Internet age, the American footie fans who once survived on scraps—the Bundesliga highlights that popped up late at night on PBS, the news that made its way across the Atlantic via word of mouth and carrier pigeon—have become voracious and sophisticated connoisseurs of the global game.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 23 July 2023
Animals were everywhere during World War I. Sixteen million non-human animals were sent into the service: trench dogs that hunted rats; carrier pigeons; and even a baboon named Jackie, who served as a private in the Third South African Infantry Regiment.
—Nick Yetto, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2023
Charles Manson Sent by carrier pigeon.
—Katie Barsotti, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2022
If the current trend continues, many sturgeon species could follow the morbid example of the carrier pigeon, which was hunted to extinction by European American settlers.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 20 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carrier pigeon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Carrier pigeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carrier%20pigeon. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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