turtledove
turtledove Lexical Profile
turtledove Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of several small, slender Old World doves of the genus Streptopelia (especially the European turtledove, Streptopelia turtur, of the family Columbidae), noted for their soft, purring cooing call and traditional association with devoted affection.
"The soft, rhythmic cooing of a turtledove echoed from the olive grove on a warm spring morning."
A beloved person or sweetheart, or a term of endearment for someone who is tenderly affectionate.
"In classic poetry, the writer often addresses his beloved as his dearest turtledove."
Word Nuance & Usage
The 'turtle' in 'turtledove' has no connection to the shelled reptile; it derives from the Latin 'turtur', an onomatopoeic word imitating the bird's soft, purring coo.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'turteldouve', combining Old English 'turtla' (borrowed from Latin 'turtur', an echoic representation of the bird's cooing call) with 'dove' to clarify the bird's identity.