Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Homing \Hom"ing\, p.a.
   Home-returning.

   {Homing pigeon}, a pigeon trained to return home from a
      distance. Homing pigeons are used for sending back
      messages or for flying races. By carrying the birds away
      and releasing them at gradually increasing distances from
      home, they may be trained to return with more or less
      certainty and promptness from distances up to four or five
      hundred miles. If the distance is increased much beyond
      this, the birds are unable to cover it without stopping
      for a prolonged rest, and their return becomes doubtful.
      Homing pigeons are not bred for fancy points or special
      colors, but for strength, speed, endurance, and
      intelligence or homing instinct.

Source : WordNet®

homing pigeon
     n : pigeon trained to return home [syn: {homer}]