What does "cottage" mean?

Cottage: A small house; a cot; a hut. Note: The term was formerly limited to a habitation for the poor, but is now applied to any small tasteful dwelling; and at places of summer resort, to any residence or lodging house of rustic architecture, irrespective of size. Cottage allotment. See under Alloment. [Eng.] -- Cottage cheese, the thick part of clabbered milk strained, salted, and pressed into a ball.