dovecote

noun dove·cote \ ˈdəv-ˌkōt , -ˌkät \

variants: or less commonly dovecot play \-ˌkät\

Definition of dovecote

1 :a small compartmented raised house or box for domestic pigeons

2 :a settled or harmonious group or organization

See dovecote defined for English-language learners

See dovecote defined for kids

dovecote was our Word of the Day on 08/24/2014. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of dovecote from the Web

Dilbeck would take creative liberties with mismatched chimneys, add dovecotes to the roofline, and insert turrets and cupolas discreetly into the facade — an idea that runs counter to contemporary use of turrets.

— by gaile robinson photos by paul moseley, star-telegram, "Whimsical By Design: Charles Dilbeck’s 1938 ranch house still exudes luxury, comfort," 2 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dovecote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

When Shakespeare's Coriolanus was condemned to die by the Volscians, the doomed general proudly reminded his enemies, "Like an eagle in a dove-cote, I Flutter'd your Volscians in Corioli." (Coriolanus was referring to an earlier victory in which his army had seized the city of Corioli from the Volscians.) When he introduced that eagle into the dovecote, Shakespeare also introduced a new figure of speech, but one that wasn't truly "discovered" by most writers until the 19th century-and then from a misquote. English novelist Edward G. Lytton reminded folks about it in 1853 when he wrote about how "the great Roman general did 'flutter the dove-cots in Corioli.'" Nowadays, we sometimes ruffle dovecotes or cause a flurry in them, in addition to fluttering them or causing a flutter in them.