pigeonhole
UK[ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn.həʊl]US[ˈpɪdʒ.ɪn.hoʊl]
n
a small open compartment in a desk or wall for holding letters or papers.
n
a restrictive category to which someone or something is assigned, often unfairly.
v
to assign to a restrictive category, often unfairly or without considering individual characteristics.
Morpheme Breakdown
pigeon
hole
pigeon
hole
Etymology
the word 'pigeonhole' originated in the late 16th century, literally denoting a small recess for a domesticated pigeon to nest. this physical structure, often found in dovecotes, was typically a series of small, identical compartments. by the late 17th century, the term was applied to the similar-looking small compartments in a writing desk or cabinet used for filing documents. the modern abstract meanings, both noun and verb, relating to restrictive categorization, emerged in the 19th century. this evolution reflects the metaphorical leap from a physical compartment to a mental one, where ideas or people are placed into fixed, often overly simplistic, categories.
Analysis
Structure: pigeon + hole
pigeon (from old french 'pijon', meaning a young bird, especially a dove; from late latin 'pipionem', meaning a chirping bird). hole (from old english 'hol', meaning a hollow place, cavity, or aperture).
Examples
she sorted the mail into the labeled pigeonholes on the office wall.
he resented being put in the political pigeonhole of a traditional conservative.
critics tend to pigeonhole the director as a maker of violent action films.