1. \Pi"geon\, n. [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or
   chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. {Peep} to
   chirp.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any bird of the order Columb[ae], of which
      numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world.
   
   Note: The common domestic pigeon, or dove, was derived from
         the Old World rock pigeon ({Columba livia}). It has
         given rise to numerous very remarkable varieties, such
         as the carrier, fantail, nun, pouter, tumbler, etc. The
         common wild pigeons of the Eastern United States are
         the passenger pigeon, and the Carolina dove. See under
         {Passenger}, and {Dove}. See, also, {Fruit pigeon},
         {Ground pigeon}, {Queen pigeon}, {Stock pigeon}, under
         {Fruit}, {Ground}, etc.
   
   2. An unsuspected victim of sharpers; a gull. [Slang]
   
   {Blue pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), an Australian passerine bird
      ({Graucalus melanops}); -- called also {black-faced crow}.
   
   
   {Green pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of Old
      World pigeons belonging to the family {Treronid[ae]}.
   
   {Imperial pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), 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}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (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}. (Zo["o]l.) 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} (Zo["o]l.), the flicker.
   
   {Prairie pigeon}. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) The upland plover.
      (b) The golden plover. [Local, U.S.]
   
   
   
   

2. \Pi"geon\, v. t.
   To pluck; to fleece; to swindle by tricks in gambling.
   [Slang] --Smart.
   
         He's pigeoned and undone.                --Observer.
   
   

Pigeons are mentioned as among the offerings which, by divine appointment, Abram presented unto the Lord (Gen. 15:9). They were afterwards enumerated among the sin-offerings (Lev. 1:14; 12:6), and the law provided that those who could not offer a lamb might offer two young pigeons (5:7; comp. Luke 2:24). (See DOVE.)