Having a narrow chest with a protruding breastbone – alluding to the appearance of pigeons.
Pigeon-chested
What's the meaning of the phrase 'Pigeon-chested'?
What's the origin of the phrase 'Pigeon-chested'?
This phrase originated in the form of pigeon-breasted, which is known since the early 19th century; for example, the 1808 edition of A Universal System of Natural History refers to “The pigeon-breasted salmon” – which must have been a strange beast.
Pigeon-chested followed later in the century. The first example I can find is from The Times, June 1873:
“He described him as thin, pigeon chested, with dark hair, perfectly straight.”
The history of “Pigeon – chested” in printed materials
Trend of pigeon – chested in printed material over time
Related phrases and meanings
Browse more Phrases
About the Author
Phrases & Meanings
A-Z
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T UV W XYZ
Categories
American Animals Australian Bible Body Colour Conflict Death Devil Dogs Emotions Euphemism Family Fashion Food French Horses ‘Jack’ Luck Money Military Music Names Nature Nautical Numbers Politics Religion Shakespeare Stupidity Entertainment Weather Women Work
How did we do?
Have you spotted something that needs updated on this page? We review all feedback we receive to ensure that we provide the most accurate and up to date information on phrases.