Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
clay pigeon

clay pigeon

2 6.6
A small flat disc people shoot in the air as a target in shooting sports like skeet
  • noun
  • /kleɪ ˈpɪdʒən/
translation icon : paloma de arcilla
  • At the shooting range, participants aim at clay pigeons as they are released by the trap machine.

I've took up golf, I've took up clay pigeon shooting.

Examples

  • After the practice bird, the squad begins to shoot clay pigeons released electronically by the "puller."

    Academic text (1995)

  • " So you've never tried clay pigeon shooting?

    Blog text (27)

  • "Upon this command, a practice clay pigeon is released to allow the squad to sight in their guns.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Clay pigeons are easier to hit with a larger shell.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The Arabs have weapons, and we are left with guns for shooting clay pigeons and target practice.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Also, I've shot a gun before on one of those clay pigeon assaults.

    Blog text (2)

  • That's the thrilling sort of life you're headed for in England, Alan... ...shooting clay pigeons.

    China Seas (1935)

  • Gorbachev takes the gun, and Erling tosses the clay pigeon up into the air.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • She goes to church, then comes home, grabs her gun, and drives over to the range to shatter clay pigeons for an hour or two.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The Sociedad Nacional de Tiro (National Shooting Society) inaugurated its new facility in 1921 and held competitions in clay pigeon shooting.

    Academic text (1994)

Surface Forms

clay pigeon singular
clay pigeons plural

Morphology

clay + pigeon

The components 'clay' (material) and 'pigeon' (a bird) give a learner a partial clue — they can infer an object made of clay associated with a pigeon or bird. However, the precise sense (a disc-shaped flying target used in shooting sports) is a conventional, culture-specific usage not directly predictable from the constituents, so the meaning is only partly transparent.

Etymology

Clay pigeon comes from the old shooting target: a small disc of baked clay that is thrown into the air to copy a flying pigeon, so shooters try to hit it. One strong image is the clay disc flying like a bird, which makes the name easy to remember. That's why clay pigeon means a thrown 'target' used in shooting sports.