pigeonholes

See also: pigeon-holes and pigeon holes

English

Etymology

From pigeonhole +‎ -s (suffix forming regular plurals of nouns and pluralia tantum; and third-person singular simple present indicative forms of verbs).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪdʒ(ɪ)nhəʊlz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɪdʒənˌ(h)oʊlz/
• Hyphenation: pi‧geon‧holes

Noun

pigeonholes pl (plural only)

1. (games, historical, obsolete) An outdoor game played in the 17th and early 18th centuries in which each player bowls a ball towards targets (probably small compartments).

   Coordinate term: nineholes

   • c. 1610–1614 (date written), William Rowley, [possibly also Thomas Heywood, George Wilkins], A New Wonder, a Woman never Vext. A Pleasant Conceited Comedy: […], London: […] G[eorge] P[urslowe] for Francis Constable, […], published 1632, →OCLC, Act IV, page 52:

     [Godfrey] Speed[well]. […] [H]ave you ſuch gold to give? / [Innocent] Lamb[skin]. Yes, yes, has vvon it betting at the bovvling Alleys, / Or at the Pigeon-holes in the Garden Alleyes.

Alternative forms

• pigeon-holes

Noun

pigeonholes

1. plural of pigeonhole

Alternative forms

• pigeon-holes, pigeon holes

Verb

pigeonholes

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of pigeonhole

Alternative forms

• pigeon-holes

Anagrams

• phenologies