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

Your art need not be on the walls, in fact: At this mountain farmland boutique resort, the cottages each come with a canvas that covers a sliding barn door that separates the living area from the bedroom. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2025

Naturally, Wiggins’s first priority was to preserve and enhance the spartan cottage’s existing architecture: the façade of rough-hewn local stone, quaint clapboard walls, restored wood floors, and exposed ceiling beams. —Laura May Todd, Architectural Digest, 6 Jan. 2025

With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the cottage can accommodate eight people. —Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 4 Jan. 2025

With 4 Completely Different Places to Live The home dates to 1937, when it was built in the Craftsman style, and a 2010 renovation and expansion brought the cottage to a comfortable 4,177 square feet. —Mark David, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2025

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