Blue pigeon (Zoˆl.), an Australian passerine bird (Graucalus melanops);
-- called also black-faced crow. -- Green pigeon (Zoˆl.), any one of
numerous species of Old World pigeons belonging to the family
TreronidÊ. -- Imperial pigeon (Zoˆl.), any one of the large Asiatic
fruit pigeons of the genus Carpophada. - - Pigeon berry (Bot.), the
purplish black fruit of the pokeweed; also, the plant itself. See
Pokeweed. -- Pigeon English [perhaps a corruption of business English],
an extraordinary and grotesque dialect, employed in the commercial
cities of China, as the medium of communication between foreign
merchants and the Chinese. Its base is English, with a mixture of
Portuguese and Hindoostanee. Johnson's Cyc. -- Pigeon grass (Bot.), a
kind of foxtail grass (Setaria glauca), of some value as fodder. The
seeds are eagerly eaten by pigeons and other birds. - - Pigeon hawk.
(Zoˆl.) (a) A small American falcon (Falco columbarius). The adult male
is dark slate-blue above, streaked with black on the back; beneath,
whitish or buff, streaked with brown. The tail is banded. (b) The
American sharp- shinned hawk (Accipiter velox, or fuscus). -- Pigeon
hole. (a) A hole for pigeons to enter a pigeon house. (b) See
Pigeonhole. (c) pl. An old English game, in which balls were rolled
through little arches. Halliwell. -- Pigeon house, a dovecote. --
Pigeon pea (Bot.), the seed of Cajanus Indicus; a kind of pulse used
for food in the East and West Indies; also, the plant itself. -- Pigeon
plum (Bot.), the edible drupes of two West African species of
Chrysobalanus (C. ellipticus and C. luteus). -- Pigeon tremex. (Zoˆl.)
See under Tremex. -- Pigeon wood (Bot.), a name in the West Indies for
the wood of several very different kinds of trees, species of Dipholis,
Diospyros, and Coccoloba. -- Pigeon woodpecker (Zoˆl.), the flicker. --
Prairie pigeon. (Zoˆl.) (a) The upland plover. (b) The golden plover.
[Local, U.S.]
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Pi"geon (?), v. t. To pluck; to fleece; to swindle by tricks in
gambling. [Slang] Smart.
He's pigeoned and undone.
Observer.
Pi"geon-breast`ed (?), a. Having a breast like a pigeon, -- the sternum
being so prominent as to constitute a deformity; chicken-breasted.
Pi"geon*foot` (?), n. (Bot.) The dove's-foot geranium (Geranium molle).
Pi"geon-heart`ed (?), a. Timid; easily frightened; chicken-hearted.
Beau. & Fl.
Pi"geon*hole` (?), n. A small compartment in a desk or case for the
keeping of letters, documents, etc.; -- so called from the resemblance
of a row of them to the compartments in a dovecote. Burke.
Pi"geon*hole`, v. t. To place in the pigeonhole of a case or cabinet;
hence, to put away; to lay aside indefinitely; as, to pigeonhole a
letter or a report.
Pi"geon-liv`ered (?), a. Pigeon- hearted.
Pi"geon*ry (?), n. A place for pigeons; a dovecote.
Pi"geon*toed` (?), a. Having the toes turned in.
Pig"-eyed` (?), a. Having small, deep-set eyes.
Pig"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) Any one of several species of salt-water
grunts; -- called also hogfish. (b) A sculpin. The name is also applied
locally to several other fishes.
Pig"foot` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A marine fish (ScorpÊna porcus), native of
Europe. It is reddish brown, mottled with dark brown and black.
Pigg (?), n. A piggin. See 1st Pig. Sir W. Scott.
Pig"ger*y (?), n.; pl. Piggeries (&?;). A place where swine are kept.
Pig"gin (?), n. [Scot.; cf. Gael. pigean, dim. of pigeadh, pige, an
earthen jar, pitcher, or pot, Ir. pigin, pighead, W. piccyn.] A small
wooden pail or tub with an upright stave for a handle, -- often used as
a dipper.
Pig"gish (?), a. Relating to, or like, a pig; greedy.
Pig"-head`ed (?), a. Having a head like a pig; hence, figuratively:
stupidity obstinate; perverse; stubborn. B. Jonson. --
Pig"-head`ed*ness, n.
Pight (?), imp. & p. p. of Pitch, to throw; -- used also adjectively.
Pitched; fixed; determined. [Obs.]
[His horse] pight him on the pommel of his head.
Chaucer.