prairie pigeon

Pigeon \Pi"geon\, n. [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or
   chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. {Peep} to
   chirp.]
   1. (Zool.) Any bird of the order Columb[ae], of which
      numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world.
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   Note: The common domestic pigeon, or dove, was derived from
         the Old World rock pigeon or rock dove ({Columba
         livia}), common in cities. It has given rise to
         numerous very remarkable varieties, such as the
         carrier, fantail, nun, pouter, tumbler, etc. The common
         wild pigeon of the Eastern United States is the
         {Mourning dove} ({Zenaida macroura}, called also
         {Carolina dove}). Before the 19th century, the most
         common pigeon was the passenger pigeon, but that
         species is now extinct. See {Passenger pigeon}, and
         {Carolina dove} under {Dove}. See, also, {Fruit
         pigeon}, {Ground pigeon}, {Queen pigeon}, {Stock
         pigeon}, under {Fruit}, {Ground}, etc.
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   2. An unsuspected victim of sharpers; a gull. [Slang]
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   {Blue pigeon} (Zool.), an Australian passerine bird
      ({Graucalus melanops}); -- called also {black-faced crow}.
      

   {Green pigeon} (Zool.), any one of numerous species of Old
      World pigeons belonging to the family {Treronid[ae]}.

   {Imperial pigeon} (Zool.), any one of the large Asiatic fruit
      pigeons of the genus {Carpophada}.

   {Pigeon berry} (Bot.), the purplish black fruit of the
      pokeweed; also, the plant itself. See {Pokeweed}.

   {Pigeon English} [perhaps a corruption of business English],
      an extraordinary and grotesque dialect, employed in the
      commercial cities of China, as the medium of communication
      between foreign merchants and the Chinese. Its base is
      English, with a mixture of Portuguese and Hindustani.
      --Johnson's Cyc.

   {Pigeon grass} (Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass ({Setaria
      glauca}), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly
      eaten by pigeons and other birds.

   {Pigeon hawk}. (Zool.)
      (a) A small American falcon ({Falco columbarius}). The
          adult male is dark slate-blue above, streaked with
          black on the back; beneath, whitish or buff, streaked
          with brown. The tail is banded.
      (b) The American sharp-shinned hawk ({Accipiter velox} or
          {Accipiter fuscus}).

   {Pigeon hole}.
      (a) A hole for pigeons to enter a pigeon house.
      (b) See {Pigeonhole}.
      (c) pl. An old English game, in which balls were rolled
          through little arches. --Halliwell.

   {Pigeon house}, a dovecote.

   {Pigeon pea} (Bot.), the seed of {Cajanus Indicus}; a kind of
      pulse used for food in the East and West Indies; also, the
      plant itself.

   {Pigeon plum} (Bot.), the edible drupes of two West African
      species of {Chrysobalanus} ({Chrysobalanus ellipticus} and
      {Chrysobalanus luteus}).

   {Pigeon tremex}. (Zool.) See under {Tremex}.

   {Pigeon wood} (Bot.), a name in the West Indies for the wood
      of several very different kinds of trees, species of
      {Dipholis}, {Diospyros}, and {Coccoloba}.

   {Pigeon woodpecker} (Zool.), the flicker.

   {Prairie pigeon}. (Zool.)
      (a) The upland plover.
      (b) The golden plover. [Local, U.S.]
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Prairie \Prai"rie\, n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie,
   LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.]
   1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of
      trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually
      characterized by a deep, fertile soil. They abound
      throughout the Mississippi valley, between the Alleghanies
      and the Rocky mountains.
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            From the forests and the prairies,
            From the great lakes of the northland. --Longfellow.
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   2. A meadow or tract of grass; especially, a so called
      natural meadow.
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   {Prairie chicken} (Zool.), any American grouse of the genus
      {Tympanuchus}, especially {Tympanuchus Americanus}
      (formerly {Tympanuchus cupido}), which inhabits the
      prairies of the central United States. Applied also to the
      sharp-tailed grouse.

   {Prairie clover} (Bot.), any plant of the leguminous genus
      {Petalostemon}, having small rosy or white flowers in
      dense terminal heads or spikes. Several species occur in
      the prairies of the United States.

   {Prairie dock} (Bot.), a coarse composite plant ({Silphium
      terebinthaceum}) with large rough leaves and yellow
      flowers, found in the Western prairies.

   {Prairie dog} (Zool.), a small American rodent ({Cynomys
      Ludovicianus}) allied to the marmots. It inhabits the
      plains west of the Mississippi. The prairie dogs burrow in
      the ground in large warrens, and have a sharp bark like
      that of a dog. Called also {prairie marmot}.

   {Prairie grouse}. Same as {Prairie chicken}, above.

   {Prairie hare} (Zool.), a large long-eared Western hare
      ({Lepus campestris}). See {Jack rabbit}, under 2d {Jack}.
      

   {Prairie hawk}, {Prairie falcon} (Zool.), a falcon of Western
      North America ({Falco Mexicanus}). The upper parts are
      brown. The tail has transverse bands of white; the under
      parts, longitudinal streaks and spots of brown.

   {Prairie hen}. (Zool.) Same as {Prairie chicken}, above.

   {Prairie itch} (Med.), an affection of the skin attended with
      intense itching, which is observed in the Northern and
      Western United States; -- also called {swamp itch},
      {winter itch}.

   {Prairie marmot}. (Zool.) Same as {Prairie dog}, above.

   {Prairie mole} (Zool.), a large American mole ({Scalops
      argentatus}), native of the Western prairies.

   {Prairie pigeon}, {Prairie plover}, or {Prairie snipe}
      (Zool.), the upland plover. See {Plover}, n., 2.

   {Prairie rattlesnake} (Zool.), the massasauga.

   {Prairie snake} (Zool.), a large harmless American snake
      ({Masticophis flavigularis}). It is pale yellow, tinged
      with brown above.

   {Prairie squirrel} (Zool.), any American ground squirrel of
      the genus {Spermophilus}, inhabiting prairies; -- called
      also {gopher}.

   {Prairie turnip} (Bot.), the edible turnip-shaped farinaceous
      root of a leguminous plant ({Psoralea esculenta}) of the
      Upper Missouri region; also, the plant itself. Called also
      {pomme blanche}, and {pomme de prairie}.

   {Prairie warbler} (Zool.), a bright-colored American warbler
      ({Dendroica discolor}). The back is olive yellow, with a
      group of reddish spots in the middle; the under parts and
      the parts around the eyes are bright yellow; the sides of
      the throat and spots along the sides, black; three outer
      tail feathers partly white.

   {Prairie wolf}. (Zool.) See {Coyote}.
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Upland \Up"land\, a.
   1. Of or pertaining to uplands; being on upland; high in
      situation; as, upland inhabitants; upland pasturage.
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            Sometimes, with secure delight
            The upland hamlets will invite.       --Milton.
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   2. Pertaining to the country, as distinguished from the
      neighborhood of towns; rustic; rude; unpolished. [Obs.W2]
      " The race of upland giants." --Chapman.
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   {Upland moccasin}. (Zool.) See {Moccasin}.

   {Upland sandpiper}, or {Upland plover} (Zool.), a large
      American sandpiper ({Bartramia longicauda}) much valued as
      a game bird. Unlike most sandpipers, it frequents fields
      and uplands. Called also {Bartramian sandpiper},
      {Bartram's tattler}, {field plover}, {grass plover},
      {highland plover}, {hillbird}, {humility}, {prairie
      plover}, {prairie pigeon}, {prairie snipe}, {papabote},
      {quaily}, and {uplander}.

   {Upland sumach} (Bot.), a North American shrub of the genus
      Rhus ({Rhus glabra}), used in tanning and dyeing.
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