cottage

UK: ˈkɒtɪdʒ | US: ˈkɑːtɪdʒ

Definition
  1. n. a small, simple house, typically in a rural or semi-rural area

  2. n. (historical) a small dwelling for farm laborers

  3. n. (British) a small vacation home

Structure
cot <small house>age <noun suffix>
Etymology

cottage = cot<small house> + age<noun suffix>

  • cot (from Old English cot or cote, meaning "small shelter" or "hut")
  • age (a noun-forming suffix from Old French -age, indicating a place or state)

Etymology Origin:
The word "cottage" traces back to Old English cot, a term for a humble dwelling, likely borrowed from Proto-Germanic kutan. The suffix -age was added in Middle English under the influence of Old French, transforming it into a term for a small, rustic house. Over time, "cottage" evolved to describe modest rural homes, often associated with pastoral simplicity or vacation retreats.

Examples
  1. They rented a charming cottage by the lake for the summer.

  2. The old stone cottage was surrounded by wildflowers.

  3. In medieval England, a cottage housed farmworkers and their families.

  4. She dreams of retiring to a quiet cottage in the countryside.

  5. The artist’s cottage became a popular tourist attraction.