Person who takes a moderate, sometimes pacifist, view on political issues. The term originated in the US during the Vietnam War. Its counterpart is a hawk. In more general usage today, a dove is equated with liberal policies, and a hawk with conservative ones.
1. An emblem of peace.
2. Someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the conduct of foreign relations; SYN. peacenik.

ETYM Old Eng. dove, duve, douve, AS. dűfe; akin to OS. duba, Dutch duif, Old High Germ. tuba, German taube, Icel. düfa, Swed. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. düba; perh. from the root of Eng. dive.
Another name for pigeon, any of numerous small pigeons.