Definition

Noun: A carrier pigeon is a specific type of homing pigeon that has been trained and used to transport written messages over long distances. The term refers to the bird's function as a message carrier.

Usage

The term is used to describe the pigeon in its role as a messenger. It is a compound noun where "carrier" specifies the pigeon's purpose. * Before modern communication, people relied on the carrier pigeon to send urgent news. * The military used carrier pigeons extensively during the World Wars.

Advanced Usage

• The concept can be used metaphorically to describe a reliable means of transmitting information, though this is less common.
  • In our disconnected village, the old radio was our carrier pigeon for world news.

Variants and Related Words

• Homing pigeon (noun): The general type of pigeon bred for its innate ability to find its way home over extremely long distances. A carrier pigeon is a homing pigeon used for a specific task.
• Messenger pigeon (noun): A synonym for carrier pigeon.

Synonyms

• Messenger pigeon
• Homing pigeon (when used for carrying messages)

Notes

• "Carrier pigeon" is a fixed compound noun. The word "carrier" in this context is not used independently to mean the bird; it only has this meaning when combined with "pigeon."

Noun

1. a homing pigeon used to carry messages