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Pigeonhole
Definitions
- 1 One of an array of open compartments for housing pigeons in a dovecote or pigeon loft.
- 2 a small compartment wordnet
- 3 A hole or opening in a door or wall for a pigeon to pass through. archaic
"The loft was lighted by a semicircular hole, though which the pigeons crept to their lodgings in the same high quarters of the premises; […] 'Dear Clym, I wonder how your face looks now?' she said, gazing abstractedly at the pigeon-hole, which admitted the sunlight so directly upon her brown hair and transparent tissues that it almost seemed to shine through her."
- 4 a specific (often simplistic) category wordnet
- 5 One of an array of open compartments in a desk, set of shelves, etc., used for sorting or storing letters, papers, or other items. broadly
"Abbé [Emmanuel Joseph] Sieyès has vvhole neſts of pigeon-holes full of conſtitutions ready made, ticketed, ſorted, and numbered; ſuited to every ſeaſon and every fancy; […]"
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- 6 One of an array of open compartments in a desk, set of shelves, etc., used for sorting or storing letters, papers, or other items.; One of an array of open compartments for receiving mail and other messages at a college, office, etc. broadly
"Fred was disappointed to find his pigeonhole empty except for bills and a flyer offering 20% off on manicures."
- 7 A compartment or cubicle in a room or other place, especially one which is (excessively) small. broadly
"The general size of a store in Tangier is about that of an ordinary shower-bath in a civilized land. […] You can rent a whole block of these pigeon-holes for fifty dollars a month."
- 8 A small opening for looking or passing things through. broadly
"However, as my friend came dodging towards my door, I saw him through the usual pigeon hole through which warders speak to their prisoners."
- 9 A small opening for looking or passing things through.; An opening in a ship for passing equipment such as an oar or rigging through. archaic, broadly
- 10 A form of stocks with openings for restraining a person's hands or feet; also, one of the openings in the device. also, attributive, broadly, historical, in-plural
"[D]ovvne vvith him in his Maieſties name, dovvne, dovvne vvith him, and carry him avvay, to the pigeon-holes."
- 11 A seat in the top row of the gallery of a theatre. broadly, obsolete
"The Play is done: For from the Pigeon-hole / I heard them hiſs the Curtain as it fell."
- 12 A notional category or class into which someone or something is placed. figuratively
"The Beat writers had very different styles and disliked the invented term and pigeonhole forced upon them."
- 13 A space between two words that is too wide. archaic, figuratively
"Theſe vvide VVhites are by Compoſiters (in vvay of Scandal) call'd Pidgeon-holes, and are by none accounted good VVorkmanſhip, unleſs in ſuch caſes of neceſſity, as aforeſaid. […] And if he [a compositor] Sets too VVide, and he chance to Set a VVord to tvvo tvvice over, he may be forc'd to make Pidgeon-holes e're he come to a Break, […]"
- 1 To construct pigeonholes (noun noun sense 1 or noun sense 3.1) in (a place); also, to subdivide (a place) into pigeonholes. transitive
"I had proposed to pigeon-hole the walls of the drawing-room for the reception of the dictionary material."
- 2 treat or classify according to a mental stereotype wordnet
- 3 To put (letters, papers, or other items) into pigeonholes or small compartments; also, to arrange or sort (items) by putting into pigeonholes. transitive
"I would rather have my ashes scattered over the soil, to help the growth of the grass and daisies; but still I should not murmur much at having them decently pigeon-holed in a Roman tomb."
- 4 place into a small compartment wordnet
- 5 To arrange (items) for future reference or use. figuratively, transitive
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- 6 To put aside (advice, a proposal, or other matter) for future consideration instead of acting on it immediately; to shelve. figuratively, transitive
"[S]everal laws and regulations were enacted for the prevention of cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, and diphtheria. These laws were not carried into effect: they were pigeon-holed."
- 7 To place (someone or something) into a notional category or class, especially in a way which makes unjustified assumptions or which is restrictive; to categorize, to classify, to label. figuratively, transitive
"Fred was tired of being pigeonholed as a computer geek."
Etymology
The noun is derived from pigeon + hole. The verb is derived from the noun.
The noun is derived from pigeon + hole. The verb is derived from the noun.
See also for "pigeonhole"
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