noun

squab

SKWAHB/skwɑb/

A young pigeon, especially one raised for food.

The dressed squab lies on the butcher’s tray.

A small, plucked squab on a plain butcher’s tray, its retained pigeon head and short beak identifying the bird while its dressed body makes the food sense explicit.

Etymology

Before naming a very young bird, squab described an unformed, lumpish person; it also referred to flabby masses. The young-bird sense underlies the food term, but the word’s origin remains uncertain, probably Scandinavian.

In context

Small Screen Food0:20

we're doing a little pan-roasted squab which is a domesticated pigeon

Seared Squab with Rice - Anne Kearney - Great Chefs

More examples

A squab huddled beside its parent in the nest.
The menu offered roasted squab.
The young squab had not yet learned to fly.

Forms

squab · squabs

Similar words

pigeon: Pigeon names the bird generally; squab is a young pigeon, especially when raised for food.
nestling: A nestling is any young bird still in the nest; squab specifically names a young pigeon.