pigeon
Preserved but no longer current.
A gullible or soft person. The French cant, or Argot, has the word PIGEON, dupe—"PECHON, PESCHON DE RUBY, apprenti gueux, enfant (sans doute dérobé)". The vagabonds and brigands of Spain also used the word in their Germania, or robbers’ language, PALOMO (PIGEON), ignorant, simple. In the sporting world sharps and flats are often called "rooks and PIGEONS" respectively—sometimes "spiders and flies."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pigeon” mean?
A gullible or soft person. The French cant, or Argot, has the word PIGEON, dupe—"PECHON, PESCHON DE RUBY, apprenti gueux, enfant (sans doute dérobé)". The vagabonds and brigands of Spain also used the word in their Germania, or robbers’ language, PALOMO (PIGEON), ignorant, simple. In the sporting world sharps and flats are often called "rooks and PIGEONS" respectively—sometimes "spiders and flies."
Is “pigeon” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.