| 释义 |
turtle-dove|ˈtɜːt(ə)ldʌv|
Forms: see turtle n.1 and dove.
[f. turtle n.1 + dove: cf. Da. turteldue (Sw. turturdufva), Du. tortelduyf (Kilian -duyve), MLG. torteldûve, G. turteltaube (MHG. turtel-, türteltûbe, OHG. turtel-, turtil(i)-, turtula-tûba).]
1. a. A dove of the genus Turtur, esp. the common European species T. communis, noted for its graceful form, harmonious colouring, and affection for its mate: = turtle n.1 1.
Also applied to T. risorius, the Barbary dove, and locally to doves of other genera, as the N. American Zenaidura carolinensis, and the Australian Stictopelia cuneata.
a1300Cursor M. 11304 (Cott.) To offer turtuls douues [v.rr. turtill dovis, turtil douues, turtur doufes] tua. c1420? Lydg. Assembly of Gods 820 A turtyldoue he bare an hygh for hys crest. c1530Crt. of Love 234 Anelida, true as turtill-dove. 1616Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 83 Of all these fore-named kinds of Birds, there is none more apt to tame than the Turtle doues. 1742Blair Grave 532 The shrill-tongu'd Shrew, Meek as the Turtle-Dove, forgets her Chiding. 1802Montagu Ornith. Dict. G 6 b, Spotted-necked Turtle-dove. 1834Pringle Afr. Sk. ix. 308 The turtle dove (Columba risoria) cooing amorously in every mimosa brake. 1909Westm. Gaz. 17 July 14/3 The turtle-dove, which we see so frequently in the fanciers' shops,..is not the common turtle-dove of this country, but the Collared or Barbary dove.
†b. sea turtle-dove, the Black Guillemot or Dovekie: = sea-turtle1. Obs.
1753[see dove n. 1 c].
2. fig. applied to a person: cf. turtle n.1 2.
1535Coverdale Ps. lxxiii[i]. 19 O delyuer not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beestes. 1575Jud. Smith Misticall Deuise A iij b, My darling and my harts desyre, my onely Turtle Doue. a1800Fause Foodrage xxii. in Child Ballads II. 299, I shall learn your turtle-dow As well to write and read. 1856Miss Mulock J. Halifax xix, I am not interested in old turtle-doves.
3. Rhyming slang. A glove. (Usu. in pl.) Cf. turtle n.1 1 c.
1857‘Ducange Anglicus’ Vulgar Tongue 23 Turtle doves,..gloves. 1935A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 127/1 Turtle doves, a pair of gloves. 1959I. & P. Opie Lore & Lang. Schoolch. xiv. 320 ‘Turtle doves’ for gloves, and so on, normally associated with cockneys, is neither confined to the metropolis, nor to the shift-for-a-living class. 1972Lebende Sprachen XVII. 8/4 Turtle dove, glove.
Hence as v. trans., ? to show affection for (another), like a turtle-dove for its mate. nonce-use. Also ˈturtle-ˈdoveism, ˈturtle-ˈdovery, nonce-wds.
1850Ld. Lytton in Life (1906) I. ii. 25 Only just married, and in a state of turtle-doveism. 1886K. S. Macquoid Sir J. Appleby iii, Half afraid I might be considered an intruder in such a turtle-dovery [the abode of a newly married couple]. 1922Joyce Ulysses 196 Take her for me... Jove, a cool ruttime send them. Yea, turtledove her. |