ˈdovehouse
Also 5 duffehous, duffous, etc.
A house for doves; a dovecot.
| 14.. Nom. in Wr.-Wülcker 730 Hoc columbare, dowfhows. 1463 Bury Wills (Camden) 24 The gardynes, berne, and duffous. 1530 Palsgr. 215 Dove house..Dufhouse, columbier. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 175 The sides cut full of holes (in manner of a doue-house). 1887 C. W. Boase Oxford 22 There had been elm walks..with dove-houses. |
| attrib. 1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. iii. 28 Sitting in the Sunne vnder the Douehouse wall. 1807 Vancouver Agric. Devon (1813) 357 Overstocked with dove-house pigeons. |
b. fig. A small petty house or place.
| 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. ccclxi. 587 Howe is it..that this peuysshe doue-house holdeth agaynst vs so longe? |