| 释义 |
pi·geon
I. \ˈpijən\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English pejon, pijon, pigeon, from Middle French pijon young bird, pigeon, from Late Latin pipion-, pipio young bird, from Latin pipire to chirp; akin to Latin pipare — more at pipe
1. : a bird of the widely distributed family Columbidae (order Columbiformes) having a stout body with rather short legs, a bill horny at the tip but with a soft cere at the base, and smooth and compact plumage; especially : a member of one of the many domesticated varieties derived from the rock pigeon (Columba livia) of the coasts of Europe — see bill illustration
2. : a young girl
< he was taking out a very pretty pigeon >
3. : one who is an easy mark : dupe
4. : clay pigeon
5. [alteration of pidgin] : an object of special concern : accepted business or interest
< she's not our pigeon unless she's an accessory — Ngaio Marsh >
< tennis was not his pigeon >
6. : the final card received in a deal of stud poker when it makes the hand a winner
7. : a pari-mutuel ticket that is counterfeit or has been canceled
8. : a dark purplish gray that is redder and paler than slate, redder, lighter, and stronger than charcoal, and redder and lighter than taupe gray
II. adjective
: of or characteristic of pigeons : made of or for pigeons
< pigeon roost >
< pigeon pie >
III. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
: to fleece especially by tricks in gambling : make a pigeon of : gull
< sit down with him in private to cards and pigeon him — W.M.Thackeray >
IV.
variant of pidgin |