columba-, columb-

(Latin: pigeon or dove)

There are an estimated 300 pigeon and dove species of near passerine birds (mainly perching songbirds) in the order Columbiformes. The terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used interchangeably, although smaller species are more likely to be called doves.

Austrocolumbia
Columba
1. Typical pigeons.
2. A small faint constellation of the southern hemisphere between Canis Major and Pictor.
columbaceous (adjective) (not comparable)
Pertaining to a bird of the suborder Columbacei: The columbaceous birds called pigeons were lined up on top the neighbor's house and were cooing very loudly.
columbarian
1. A dove-keeper, a pigeon-fancier.
2. A chamber or wall in which urns containing the ashes of the dead are stored.
3. A niche in which an urn containing funeral ashes is placed in a columbarium.
4. Etymology: from about 1840–50; from Latin, literally, "a nesting box for pigeons, equivalent to columba, "pigeon, dove" plus -ārium -ary.

columbarium (s) (noun), columbaria (pl)
1. Also known as a columbary, a vault with niches for urns containing ashes of the dead: "At the funeral, the eldest child placed the urn of the ashes of the parent in the columbarium at the town’s cemetery."
2. A dovecote, or a pigeonhole in a dovecote (or dovecot), is a roost for domesticated pigeons: "There was an artistically designed columbarium for the pigeons in the corner of the farm yard."
3. Etymology: from Latin, columba, dove (pigeon); then it came to mean "a sepurchre for urns" and a "dovecote"."
columbary
1. A dovecote; a pigeonhole in a dovecote (a structure, usually at a height above the ground, for housing domestic pigeons); a pigeon house.
2. A vault with niches for urns containing ashes of the dead; one of the niches in such a vault.
columbine: doves, pigeions
1. Dove-like; resembling the dove as a type of innocence or gentleness.
2. Columbidae, a family that contains pigeons and doves of about 300 species of small to medium-sized terrestrial and arboreal birds found worldwide in woodland, forests, cities, and arid areas.

They feed mostly on seeds and fruit, nest in trees, cliffs, on window ledges or lofts, or on the ground. The young are fed on what is called “crop-milk”.

columboid
Like or similar to a pigeon or dove.
Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas. (Latin Motto)
Our censors are indulgent to the crows, but harass the doves: From Decimus Iunius (Junius) Iuvenalis (Juvenalis) (c. A.D. 60-117); Saturae, I, 63; who attacked the vices of the plutocrats, the wickedness and immorality of women and foreigners (particularly Greeks), and laments the decline of the ancient aristocratic virtues.

The editor of the newspaper titled the lead editorial, Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas because it was a statement of her opinion of the city officials who sought to censor her newspaper.

pigeon
1. A medium-sized bird with a stocky body and short legs, powerful flight, and a "cooing" call, which eats seeds and fruit.

There are more than 300 species of pigeons found worldwide. Family Columbidae.

2. Medium-sized bird living in cities; a variety of rock dove, commonly seen in cities or trained for racing or carrying messages. Latin name Columba livia.
3. From Late Latin pipionem, "squab, young chirping bird", from Latin pipio, "chirping bird", from pipire "to peep, chirp" of imitative origin.

Modern spelling is from later French pigeon. Replaced culver (Old English culufre, from Vulgar Latin columbra, from Latin columbula and native dove.

Terretur minimo pennae stridore columba unguibus, accipiter, saucia facta tuis. (Latin idiom)
O hawk, the dove that's been wounded by your talons is frightened by the least flutter of a feather.

A Latin idiom. The French, Italians, and Spanish have an equivalent idiom: "A scalded cat is afraid of cold water." Another similar idiom: "A burned child is afraid of a puff of smoke."