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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Zenaidura macroura

Mourning \Mourn"ing\, a.

  1. Grieving; sorrowing; lamenting.

  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.

    Mourning bride (Bot.), a garden flower ( Scabiosa atropurpurea) with dark purple or crimson flowers in flattened heads.

    Mourning dove (Zo["o]l.), 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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.

Zenaidura macroura

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. (Zo["o]l.) A pigeon of the genus Columba and various related genera. The species are numerous.

    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.

  2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.

    O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice.
    --Cant. ii. 14.

  3. a person advocating peace, compromise or conciliation rather than war or conflict. Opposite of hawk.

    Dove tick (Zo["o]l.), a mite ( Argas reflexus) which infests doves and other birds.

    Soiled dove, a prostitute. [Slang]