plural of cote; shelters or coops for birds like pigeons and doves, or small houses in a rural setting.
From Old English 'cote' (a shelter). The plural form has been in use since medieval times to refer to multiple animal shelters or small dwellings.
The word 'cote' appears in place names across Britain—Cotes, Cotswold (meaning cotes on a slope)—because dovecotes were so important economically that they shaped how villages were named and remembered.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.