pygeoun (Middle English)

Where does "pygeoun" come from?

The Middle English noun 'pygeoun', meaning a 'dove or pigeon', entered the language as a borrowing from Middle French 'pigeon'[1]. This French form originated from the Old French 'pyjon'[2], which traces its roots back to the Latin term 'pīpiōnem'[1]. The Latin noun itself is of imitative origin[3], likely echoing the natural sounds made by young birds.

Open questions

• The claim that the Latin term is of imitative origin is a common characterization for such words but remains a descriptive linguistic hypothesis rather than a documented historical derivation. [3]

Full etymology tree

• pygeoun (Middle English), 'A dove or pigeon, especially if young or when cooked.'
  • borrowed pigeon (Middle French)
    • derived pyjon (Old French), 'pigeon'
      • inherited pipionem (Latin), 'accusative singular of pīpiō'
        • inherited pipio (Latin), 'to chirp, to pipe'

Ancestors

• pyjon (Old French)
• pipionem (Latin)

Descendants and derived words

• pigeon (English)
• pigeon (English)
• pigeon (English)

Sources

1. pygeoun (Middle English) - Wiktionary
2. pyjon (Old French) - Wiktionary
3. pipio (Latin) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris