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 The three-floor guest house, on the other hand, was designed by late French architect François Catroux to complement the main house and was completed in the early 2000s to replace a smaller cottage that stood on the property. Mark David, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2023 This hotel in Ouray offers rustic rooms and a private cottage, though the main draw is the natural pools. Alex Schechter, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2023 Visitors can stay in historic cottages while dining on fresh food and exploring the gardens and orchards of this untouched landscape. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023 Can Miles compose movie scores in a small cottage across the Atlantic? Shannon Carlin, refinery29.com, 20 Nov. 2023 In Seattle, Margaret and Tim Newcomb sleep on separate floors of their two-story cottage, with Margaret ever mindful that her husband, who has dementia, can hallucinate and become aggressive if medication fails to tame his symptoms. Jordan Rau, Fortune Well, 16 Nov. 2023 The actor shared that his family enjoyed spending time on it while at their cottage in Michigan. Emily Krauser, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023 Best Restaurants Owen's Fish Camp Located in a cottage built in 1923, Owen’s Fish Camp specializes in fresh seafood and Southern classics. Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 14 Nov. 2023 The property has a three-bedroom main residence; a two-bedroom caretaker’s cottage; and two one-bedroom beach houses (the Pond Pavilion and Ocean Pavilion), which were built in 2007. Emma Reynolds, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 See More

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 3 Dec. 2023.

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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