cottage是可数名词,既可指农村简陋的“小屋,村舍”,也可指豪华的“别墅”。

They happened on a cottage almost hidden in elm tree branches.他们偶然发现一座几乎被榆树枝遮住的农舍。
They reside in a cottage at the foot of the mountain.他们住在山脚下的一所小屋里。
He lived in a tiny cottage all by himself.他一人住在一间很小的茅屋里。
The cottage could accommodate up to five people.这间小屋至多能容纳五个人。
She lived in a cottage by the sea.她住在一所海滨别墅内。

cottage, cot, lodge, shed
这组词的共同意思是“村舍,小屋”。其区别是:cottage意为“茅屋”,主要指农夫、渔夫等穷苦人所住的茅草屋,多指乡村中的小屋,现又指疗养院、学校等内部的单幢住所和避暑别墅,多为美观舒适的小房子; cot指一种简易的村舍、小屋,也指用木头等搭成的家畜、家禽等的棚、槛、栏等; shed主要指粗糙的建筑物,储物间; lodge则指在乡间供溜冰、狩猎或垂钓者住宿的小房子或城市里看门人、仆人所住的位于大院门口的小屋以及警卫室、传达室等。例如:
My aunt lives in a pretty thatched cottage in the country.我婶婶住在乡下的一间茅草屋里。
They bought a cottage for holidays.他们买了一所度假别墅。
The people in this village lived in mud cots.这村里的人都住这种泥房子。
The farmer built a cot for his chickens.那农民给他的鸡搭了一鸡舍。
There are three porter's lodges in our school.在我们学校有三个传达室。
There are many tools in the tool shed.工具棚里有许多工具。

［词源］  ＜中古英语cotage ＜古法语cote(小屋,表场所→村舍,小屋)