DictionaryAI

pigeon

PIJ-in/ˈpɪ.dʒɪn/

Pluralpigeons

8 meanings of pigeon

Practice

  1. 1
    birdnouncountable
    A common gray bird with a small head, often seen around towns and city parks.

    Like the gray birds you see waiting for food in almost any city park.

    A pigeon landed on the windowsill and pecked at the crumbs.

    We watched the pigeons gather around the fountain in the square.

    Similardove, culver

  2. 2
    meatnoununcountable
    Meat from the pigeon, cooked and served as food.

    Like chicken or duck, but from a smaller bird.

    We had roasted pigeon for dinner at the old country inn.

    The chef served pigeon with a rich berry sauce.

    UsageSay roast pigeon, like chicken.

  3. 3
    easy victimnouncolloquialCanadaUScountable
    Someone who is fooled and cheated by a clever trickster.

    Like a fish that swims straight into the net.

    The con artist picked an old tourist as his pigeon.

    They treated the new investor like a pigeon and took his savings.

    Similarsucker, dupe, mark, chump, gull

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–3

It came through Middle English and Old French from a Late Latin word meaning "chirping bird", from a Latin word meaning "to chirp", which imitated the sound.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Meaning 4

It comes from "pidgin", from a Chinese Pidgin English way of saying the English word "business".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Pigeon in the sense of concern or responsibility comes from pidgin. en.wiktionary.org
  • Pidgin derives from a Chinese Pidgin English pronunciation of the English word business. en.wiktionary.org