pigeon

pigeon · noun, verb¹

1. Latinpīpiō
2. Latinpipio
3. Old Frenchpyjon
4. Middle Englishpygeoun
5. English todaypigeon

Inherited from Middle English pygeoun, borrowed from Old French pyjon, inherited from Late Latin pīpiōnem (“chirping bird”), derived from Latin pīpiāre (“to chirp”), of imitative origin. Partly displaced native English dove.

pigeon · noun²

1. English · derived frombusiness
2. English todaypigeon

From pidgin English, from a Chinese Pidgin English pronunciation of English business during trade in the Far East. See pidgin.

Words from the same roots