cottage

noun

cot·​tage ˈkä-tij 

1

: the dwelling of a farm laborer or small farmer

2

: a usually small frame one-family house

3

: a small detached dwelling unit at an institution

4

: a usually small house for vacation use

cottagey

ˈkä-ti-jē 

adjective

Synonyms

• bach [New Zealand]
• cabin
• camp
• chalet
• lodge

Examples of cottage in a Sentence

We rented a cottage for the weekend.

She owns a cottage at the beach.

Recent Examples on the Web

The popular perception of how the Grimms collected their tales was captured in an illustration that appeared in an eighteen-nineties German magazine: Jacob and Wilhelm are shown visiting a humble cottage, listening to an older peasant woman. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Inspired by Old World European craftsmanship, these one-of-a-kind cottages are located on a 15-acre woodland park. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

For a restaurant with the same comforting atmosphere as Strega Nona’s Calabrian cottage, the Resy team suggests il Buco. —Caitlin Palumbo, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

According to some newspaper reports, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (who were evicted from their cottage in Windsor by King Charles last year) have bought a home in Alentejo, just over an hour’s drive from the coastal town of Melides, where Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank have a house. —Isaac Bickerstaff, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cotage "holding of a free peasant, the peasant's dwelling on such a holding," borrowed from Anglo-French, "tenure of a free peasant owing rent to a lord, rent paid for such a holding," probably from Middle English cot or cote "dwelling of a rural laborer, hut" + Anglo-French -age -age — more at cot entry 1, cote entry 1

Note: Regarding the status of such a holding, see note at cottar.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cottage

• Cape Cod cottage
• cottage cheese
• cottage curtains
• cottage hospital
• cottage industry
• cottage pie
• cottage pudding
• cottage tulip
• tied cottage

Kids Definition

cottage

noun

cot·​tage ˈkät-ij 

1

: a small one-family house

2

: a small house for vacation use