Carrier pigeon

Carrier pigeon

A Carrier pigeon is a Homing Pigeon (specifically a domesticated Rock Pigeon, "Columba livia") that has been used to carry messages. Using pigeons to carry messages is generally called "pigeon post." Most homing/racing type varieties can be used to carry messages. There is no specific breed actually called "Carrier pigeon," so a Carrier pigeon is any variety that is used to carry messages. Carrier pigeons that were the basic Racing Homer were used to carry messages in World War I and World War II and are nowadays used for pigeon racing. Thirty-two pigeons were presented with the Dickin Medal.

Carrier pigeons should not be confused with English Carriers, which were once used many years ago to carry messages but are now bred primarily for their "carriage" and other show qualities. [cite book |last=Levi |first=Wendell |title= The Pigeon|year= 1977|publisher= Levi Publishing Co, Inc|location= Sumter, S.C.|isbn=0853900132 ] The Egyptians and the Persians first used carrier pigeons 3,000 years ago. They also were used to proclaim the winner of the Olympics.cite book| last =Blechman | first =Andrew | title =Pigeons-The fascinating saga of the world's most revered and reviled bird. | publisher =University of Queensland Press | date =2007 | location =St Lucia, Queensland | url =http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/book_details.php?id=9780702236419| isbn =9780702236419 ]

Tipu Sultan used carrier pigeons. They returned to the Jamia Masjid mosque in Srirangapatna, which was his headquarters. The pigeon holes may be seen in the mosque's minarets to this day.

Carrier pigeons played a vital part in World War II communication for D-Day as radios could not be used for fear of vital information being intercepted by the enemy.

The humorous IP over Avian Carriers (RFC 1149) is an Internet protocol for the transmission of messages via homing pigeon. Originally intended as an April Fools' Day RFC entry, this protocol has in fact been implemented and used, once, to transmit a message in Bergen, Norway on April 28, 2001. [http://www.blug.linux.no/rfc1149/ Bergen Linux User Group - The highly unofficial CPIP WG] ]

References

See also

*English Carrier
*Racing Homer
*Pigeon Racing


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Carrier pigeon — Carrier Car ri*er, n. [From {Carry}.] 1. One who, or that which, carries or conveys; a messenger. [1913 Webster] The air which is but . . . a carrier of the sounds. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. One who is employed, or makes it his business, to carry… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carrier pigeon — carrier .pigeon n a ↑pigeon (=type of bird) that has been trained to carry messages …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • carrier pigeon — carrier ,pigeon noun count a PIGEON that has been trained to carry messages …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • carrier pigeon — ► NOUN ▪ a homing pigeon trained to carry messages …   English terms dictionary

  • carrier pigeon — n. 1. former name for HOMING PIGEON 2. any of a breed of large show pigeons with big wattles …   English World dictionary

  • carrier pigeon — noun a homing pigeon used to carry messages • Hypernyms: ↑homing pigeon, ↑homer * * * noun, pl ⋯ geons [count] : a type of pigeon that is trained to carry messages * * * ˈcarrier pigeon [carrier pigeon carrier pigeons] …   Useful english dictionary

  • carrier pigeon — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms carrier pigeon : singular carrier pigeon plural carrier pigeons a pigeon that has been trained to carry messages …   English dictionary

  • carrier pigeon — Homing Hom ing (h[=o]m [i^]ng), p. a. Home returning; used specifically of carrier pigeons. [1913 Webster] {Homing pigeon}, any pigeon trained to return home from a distance. Also called {carrier pigeon}. Most are bred from the domestic pigeon… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carrier pigeon — pigeon which is used to carry and deliver messages …   English contemporary dictionary

  • carrier pigeon — Synonyms and related words: Aquarius, Ganymede, Hebe, bearer, bheesty, busboy, caddie, cargo handler, carrier, carter, common carrier, conveyer, coolie, cupbearer, drayman, express, expressman, freighter, gun bearer, hauler, homer, homing pigeon …   Moby Thesaurus

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