What does pouter mean?
A pouter is most commonly a domestic pigeon whose breed is distinguished by a large crop, an expandable pouch in the throat that the bird can inflate to an impressive size. Pouters are therefore often associated with conspicuous displays of swelling or puffing, although the inflated crop is a normal part of their appearance. The word can also denote a person who sulks or pouts, but that meaning is now dated and uncommon. In contemporary writing, “pouter” usually refers to the bird, especially in contexts involving pigeon breeding, shows, and descriptions of the breed’s unusual appearance. The word is memorable because it captures both a pigeon’s dramatic physical display and, in its older figurative sense, the human tendency to brood or sulk. The modern plural is “pouters,” referring either to birds or, rarely, to sulking people.
nounA pouter is a domestic pigeon of a breed characterized by a large crop that can be prominently inflated. The term can also denote a person who sulks or pouts, though this sense is uncommon and now chiefly literary or dated.
- A domestic pigeon of a breed noted for its large, prominently inflatable crop.
- A person who sulks or pouts; now uncommon and chiefly literary or dated.
"The pouter inflated its crop and strutted proudly before the judges."
"The red pouter stood at the edge of the enclosure, its enormous crop fully expanded."
"She was a pouter for the rest of the afternoon, refusing to speak to either of them."
The standard plural of both the pigeon and the rare human sense.
"The two pouters were exhibited in separate cages."
A pouter pigeon can inflate its crop so dramatically that it resembles a bird wearing an enormous feathered balloon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pouter come from?
The word “pouter” was formed in English from “pout” and the suffix “-er,” meaning one that pouts or displays a swollen, protruding appearance. Its pigeon sense reflects the bird’s prominent crop, which can be expanded until it greatly enlarges the front of the body. The figurative sense for a person who sulks developed from the same idea of visibly projecting an ill-humored attitude.
How pouter is actually used
In modern usage, “pouter” is most often recognized as a name for a pigeon breed. The sense meaning a person who sulks is rare and literary, while “pouting” and “sulking” are more natural descriptions of such behavior.