cottage

noun

cot·​tage ˈkä-tij How to pronounce cottage (audio)
1
: the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer
2
: a usually small frame one-family house
3
: a small detached dwelling unit at an institution
4
: a usually small house for vacation use
cottagey adjective

Examples of cottage in a Sentence

We rented a cottage for the weekend. She owns a cottage at the beach.
Recent Examples on the Web Sandy beaches and waterfront views on both sides make the five-bedroom main house and two-bedroom cottage a rustic refuge. Mary Forgione, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 This cottage is the stuff of fairytales, with a small, warm kitchen and beautiful Germanic style detailing on the outside. Kristi Kellogg, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2024 At Luke Edward Hall and Duncan Campbell’s cottage in the Cotswolds, a small fire prompted them to rethink the entire color palette for the better. Elizabeth Metcalfe, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2024 Earlier this year, residents of Bishop Monkton, a village in north Yorkshire, were distressed when a thirty-foot topiary cockerel in a cottage front garden was suddenly felled by the home’s new owner. Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cottage 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cottage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cotage "holding of a free peasant, the peasant's dwelling on such a holding," borrowed from Anglo-French, "tenure of a free peasant owing rent to a lord, rent paid for such a holding," probably from Middle English cot or cote "dwelling of a rural laborer, hut" + Anglo-French -age -age — more at cot entry 1, cote entry 1

Note: Regarding the status of such a holding, see note at cottar.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cottage was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cottage

Cite this Entry

“Cottage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cottage

noun
cot·​tage ˈkät-ij How to pronounce cottage (audio)
1
: a small one-family house
2
: a small house for vacation use

More from Merriam-Webster on cottage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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