Taube

Taube is a German noun meaning dove or pigeon. In everyday language it refers to birds of the family Columbidae and is commonly used to evoke the symbolism of peace in culture and art.

In aviation, Taube refers to the Etrich Taube, an early military aircraft designed by Igo Etrich. First flown in 1909, it was intended as a stable, easy-to-fly reconnaissance aircraft and became one of the first widely used German aircraft in the prewar and early World War I years. The Taube is noted for its distinctive wing shape, which researchers say resembled a dove in flight, and for its relatively simple, robust construction. It achieved service in the German and Austro-Hungarian air services around 1910–1911, remaining common in training and reconnaissance roles through the early war years before being superseded by more modern designs. Various manufacturers produced the Taube or license-built variants, helping to spread the design across Europe in the early aviation era.

Culturally, the dove is a universal symbol of peace, purity, and hope, and the term Taube has carried that symbolism into literature, art, and public discourse in German-speaking contexts. Beyond birds and airplanes, Taube may appear in historical discussions as the name of specific aircraft models or as a surname in some cases.