turtledove
[
tur
-tl-duhv]
/ˈtɜr tlˌdʌv/
noun
1.
any of several small to medium-sized Old World doves of the genus
Streptopelia,
especially
S. turtur,
of Europe, having a long, graduated tail: noted for its soft, cooing call.
2.
mourning dove
.
3.
a sweetheart or beloved mate.
Origin
1250-1300;
Middle English
turtildove,
equivalent to
turtil
turtle
2
+
dove
dove
1
Examples from the web for
turtledove
Then an odd and exotic new creature, a
turtledove
, is brought into the house and placed in a gilded cage.
Types of birds affected included racing pigeons, stray pigeons, and a
turtledove
.
British Dictionary definitions for
turtledove
turtledove
/
ˈtɜːt
ə
lˌdʌv
/
noun
1.
any of several Old World doves of the genus
Streptopelia
, having a brown plumage with speckled wings and a long dark tail
2.
a gentle or loving person
Word Origin
see
turtle
²