feather

Main Entry:: ¹feath·er
Pronunciation:: \ˈfe-thər\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English fether, from Old English; akin to Old High German federa wing, Latin petere to go to, seek, Greek petesthai to fly, piptein to fall, pteron wing
Date:: before 12th century

1 a: any of the light horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds and that consist of a shaft bearing on each side a series of barbs which bear barbules which in turn bear barbicels commonly ending in hooked hamuli and interlocking with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous vane barchaic : plume 2a c: the vane of an arrow2 a: plumage b: kind , nature <birds of a feather flock together> c: attire , dress d: condition , mood <woke up in fine feather> eplural : composure <some feathers had been ruffled — D. J. Blum>3: feathering 24: a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange5: a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone6: the act of feathering an oar

— feath·ered

\-thərd\ adjective

— feath·er·less adjective

— a feather in one's cap

: a mark of distinction : honor

[feather illustration]

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