mourning dove

mourning dove
    n 1: wild dove of the United States having a mournful call [syn:
         {mourning dove}, {Zenaidura macroura}]
    

Mourning \Mourn"ing\, a.
   1. Grieving; sorrowing; lamenting.
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   2. Employed to express sorrow or grief; worn or used as
      appropriate to the condition of one bereaved or sorrowing;
      as, mourning garments; a mourning ring; a mourning pin,
      and the like.
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   {Mourning bride} (Bot.), a garden flower ({Scabiosa
      atropurpurea}) with dark purple or crimson flowers in
      flattened heads.

   {Mourning dove} (Zool.), a wild dove ({Zenaidura macroura})
      found throughout the United States; -- so named from its
      plaintive note. Called also {Carolina dove}. See Illust.
      under {Dove}.

   {Mourning warbler} (Zool.), an American ground warbler
      ({Geothlypis Philadelphia}). The male has the head, neck,
      and chest, deep ash-gray, mixed with black on the throat
      and chest; other lower parts are pure yellow.
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Dove \Dove\ (d[u^]v), n. [OE. dove, duve, douve, AS. d[=u]fe;
   akin to OS. d[=u]ba, D. duif, OHG. t[=u]ba, G. taube, Icel.
   d[=u]fa, Sw. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. d[=u]b[=o]; perh. from
   the root of E. dive.]
   1. (Zool.) A pigeon of the genus {Columba} and various
      related genera. The species are numerous.
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   Note: The domestic dove, including the varieties called
         {fantails}, {tumblers}, {carrier pigeons}, etc., was
         derived from the {rock pigeon} ({Columba livia}) of
         Europe and Asia; the {turtledove} of Europe, celebrated
         for its sweet, plaintive note, is {Columba turtur} or
         {Turtur vulgaris}; the {ringdove}, the largest of
         European species, is {Columba palumbus}; the {Carolina
         dove}, or {Mourning dove}, is {Zenaidura macroura}; the
         {sea dove} is the little auk ({Mergulus alle} or {Alle
         alle}). See {Turtledove}, {Ground dove}, and {Rock
         pigeon}. The dove is a symbol of peace, innocence,
         gentleness, and affection; also, in art and in the
         Scriptures, the typical symbol of the Holy Ghost.
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   2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.
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            O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice. --Cant. ii.
                                                  14.
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   3. a person advocating peace, compromise or conciliation
      rather than war or conflict. Opposite of {hawk}.
      [PJC]

   {Dove tick} (Zool.), a mite ({Argas reflexus}) which infests
      doves and other birds.

   {Soiled dove}, a prostitute. [Slang] Dovecot