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)
- (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
Noun
pigeonholes
- plural of pigeonhole
Alternative forms
Verb
pigeonholes
- third-person singular simple present indicative of pigeonhole