Forms: see TURTLE sb.1 and DOVE. [f. TURTLE sb.1 + DOVE: cf. Da. turteldue (Sw. turturdufva), Da. tortelduyf (Kilian -duyve), MLG. torteldûve, G. turteltaube (MHG. turtel-, türteltûbe, OHG. turtel-, turtil(i)-, turtula-tûba).]
1. A dove of the genus Turtur, esp. the common European species T. communis, noted for its graceful form, harmonious coloring, and affection for its mate: = TURTLE sb.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.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 11304 (Cott.). To offer turtuls douues [v.rr. turtill dovis, turtil douues, turtur doufes] tua.
c. 1420. ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 820. A turtyldoue he bare an hygh for hys crest.
c. 1530. Crt. of Love, 234. Anelida, true as turtill-dove.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Country Farme, 83. Of all these fore-named kinds of Birds, there is none more apt to tame than the Turtle doues.
1742. Blair, Grave, 532. The shrill-tongu’d Shrew, Meek as the Turtle-Dove, forgets her Chiding.
1802. Montagu, Ornith. Dict., G 6 b. Spotted-necked Turtle-dove.
1834. Pringle, Afr. Sk., ix. 308. The turtle dove (Columba risoria) cooing amorously in every mimosa brake.
1909. Westm. 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 sb. 1 c].
2. fig. applied to a person: cf. TURTLE sb.1 2.
1535. Coverdale, Ps. lxxiii[i]. 19. O delyuer not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the beestes.
1575. Jud. Smith, Misticall Deuise, A iij b. My darling and my harts desyre, my onely Turtle Doue.
a. 1800. Fause Foodrage, xxii., in Child, Ballads, II. 299. I shall learn your turtle-dow As well to write and read.
1856. Miss Mulock, J. Halifax, xix. I am not interested in old turtle-doves.
Hence Turtle-doveism, Turtle-dovery, nonce-wds.
1845. D. Jerrold, in Punch, IX. 85/2. I found myself in a sort of a green bird-cage of a house, which my wife—gentle satirist!—insisted upon calling ‘The Turtle-Dovery.’
1850. Ld. Lytton, in Life (1906), I. ii. 25. Only just married, and in a state of turtle-doveism.
1886. K. 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].
