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Wiktionary:Word of the day/2025/January 5

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Word of the day
for January 5
pigeonhole n
  1. One of an array of open compartments for housing pigeons in a dovecote or pigeon loft.
  2. (archaic) A hole or opening in a door or wall for a pigeon to pass through.
  3. (by extension)
    1. One of an array of open compartments in a desk, set of shelves, etc., used for sorting and/or storing letters, papers, or other items.
      2. One of an array of open compartments for receiving mail and other messages at a college, office, etc.
    2. A compartment or cubicle in a room or other place, especially one which is (excessively) small.
    3. A small opening for looking or passing things through.
      1. (nautical, archaic) An opening in a ship for passing equipment such as an oar or rigging through.
    4. (historical, chiefly in the plural, also attributive) A form of stocks with openings for restraining a person's hands or feet; also, one of the openings in the device.
    5. (obsolete, theater) A seat in the top row of the gallery of a theatre.
  4. (figurative)
    1. A notional category or class into which someone or something is placed.
    2. (typography, archaic) A space between two words that is too wide.

pigeonhole v (transitive)

  1. To construct pigeonholes (noun sense 1 or sense 3.1) in (a place); also, to subdivide (a place) into pigeonholes.
  2. To put (letters, papers, or other items) into pigeonholes or small compartments; also, to arrange or sort (items) by putting into pigeonholes.
  3. (figurative)
    1. To arrange (items) for future reference or use.
    2. To put aside (advice, a proposal, or other matter) for future consideration instead of acting on it immediately; to shelve.
    3. To place (someone or something) into a notional category or class, especially in a way which makes unjustified assumptions or which is restrictive; to categorize, to classify, to label.

Today is National Bird Day in the U.S.A., which is promoted by the Avian Welfare Coalition to encourage the leaving of birds in the wild and to improve the welfare of birds in captivity.

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