A cottage is a small, cozy house, often found in the countryside or near water. Think of a little home with a thatched or shingled roof, maybe surrounded by a garden and trees. The word brings to mind something simple and charming rather than grand or fancy.

Traditionally, cottages were homes for farmers, shepherds, or workers who lived on large estates. They were built to be practical and warm, not to impress visitors. Today, people often use cottages as vacation homes where families can escape city life for a weekend by a lake or in the mountains.

The word cottage also appears in phrases that tell you something about size or style. Cottage cheese got its name because it was originally made in small batches at home in cottages. Cottage industry describes small-scale manufacturing done at home rather than in big factories, like someone knitting sweaters in their living room to sell.

When you picture a cottage, you might imagine smoke curling from a chimney, a cozy fireplace inside, and windows with flower boxes. It's the kind of place where you'd want to curl up with a book on a rainy afternoon.