I. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English turtildove, from turtil, turtle turtledove + dove — more at turtle
1.
a. : an Old World wild dove of Streptopelia or related genera ; especially : a common European bird ( S. turtur ) noted for its plaintive cooing and being mostly cinnamon brown with a white-bordered black patch on each side of the neck and white-tipped outer tail feathers
b. : mourning dove
c. : a small Australian dove ( Stictopeleia cuneata ) of terrestrial habits
2. : beloved , sweetheart
3. : a dark gray to reddish gray
II. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to be affectionately demonstrative