n. [ OE. dove, duve, douve, AS. dūfe; akin to OS. dūba, D. duif, OHG. tūba, G. taube, Icel. dūfa, Sw. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. dūbō; perh. from the root of E. dive. ] 1. (Zool.) A pigeon of the genus Columba and various related genera. The species are numerous. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The domestic dove, including the varieties called fantails, tumblers, carrier pigeons, etc., was derived from the rock pigeon (Columba livia) of Europe and Asia; the turtledove of Europe, celebrated for its sweet, plaintive note, is Columba turtur or Turtur vulgaris; the ringdove, the largest of European species, is Columba palumbus; the Carolina dove, or Mourning dove, is Zenaidura macroura; the sea dove is the little auk (Mergulus alle or Alle alle). See Turtledove, Ground dove, and Rock pigeon. The dove is a symbol of peace, innocence, gentleness, and affection; also, in art and in the Scriptures, the typical symbol of the Holy Ghost. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle. [ 1913 Webster ]

O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice. Cant. ii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. a person advocating peace, compromise or conciliation rather than war or conflict. Opposite of hawk. [ PJC ]

Dove tick (Zool.), a mite (Argas reflexus) which infests doves and other birds. --
Soiled dove, a prostitute. [ Slang ]

{ } n. A small house or box, raised to a considerable height above the ground, and having compartments, in which domestic pigeons breed; a dove house. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like an eagle in a dovecote, I
Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having eyes like a dove; meekeyed; as, dove-eyed Peace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A guillemot (Uria grylle), of the arctic regions. Also applied to the little auk or sea dove. See under Dove. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A young or small dove. Booth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mild as a dove; gentle; pure and lovable. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A Central American orchid (Peristeria elata), having a flower stem five or six feet high, with numerous globose white fragrant flowers. The column in the center of the flower resembles a dove; -- called also Holy Spirit plant. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ From Dr. Dover, an English physician. ] (Med.) A powder of ipecac and opium, compounded, in the United States, with sugar of milk, but in England (as formerly in the United States) with sulphate of potash, and in France (as in Dr. Dover's original prescription) with nitrate and sulphate of potash and licorice. It is an anodyne diaphoretic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) (a) A small annual species of Geranium, native in England; -- so called from the shape of the leaf. (b) The columbine. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The possession of dovelike qualities, harmlessness and innocence. [ Obs. ] Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]