A pigeon, a common bird often found in urban areas.

Origin: The word 'कबूतर' (kabootar) originates from the Persian word 'کبوتر' (kabūtar), which itself traces back to Middle Persian 'kaptar'. The transition from Persian to Hindi occurred during the Mughal period when Persian was a significant language of administration and culture in India.Historical and Cultural Context: The earliest attestations of 'kabootar' in Hindi literature date back to the medieval period, particularly in poetry and folk tales, where pigeons were often symbols of love and communication.Evolution: Over time, 'kabootar' has remained relatively stable in its meaning, consistently referring to pigeons. Cognates can be found in other Indo-Iranian languages, such as Urdu and Persian, reflecting the shared cultural and linguistic heritage.Modern Relevance: Today, 'kabootar' is used in everyday Hindi to refer to pigeons, which are common in both urban and rural environments. The word is also part of idiomatic expressions, like 'kabootar ja ja ja', referring to sending messages or letters metaphorically, harkening back to the days of using pigeons as messengers.

Pigeons have been used as message carriers for thousands of years due to their homing ability, and the phrase 'kabootar ja ja ja' became popularized by a Bollywood song about sending messages of love.