turtledove

[ tur-tl-duhv ]
/ ˈtɜr tlˌdʌv /

noun

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.
mourning dove.
a sweetheart or beloved mate.

Origin of turtledove

1250–1300; Middle English turtildove, equivalent to turtil turtle2 + dove dove1

Words nearby turtledove

turrical, turriculate, tursha, turtle, turtleback, turtledove, turtlehead, turtleneck, turtlet, turves, turya

Example sentences from the Web for turtledove

British Dictionary definitions for turtledove

turtledove
/ (ˈtɜːtəlˌdʌv) /

noun

any of several Old World doves of the genus Streptopelia, having a brown plumage with speckled wings and a long dark tail
a gentle or loving person

Word Origin for turtledove

see turtle ²