Feather Definition
fĕthər
feathered, feathering, feathers
noun
feathers
Any of the growths covering the body of a bird or making up a large part of the wing surface, as down or contour feathers: a typical contour feather consists of a horny central shaft, partly hollow, from which light, soft, narrow barbs, with interlocking barbules and barbicels, extend to form a thin, flat surface.
Webster's New World
A feathery tuft or fringe of hair, as on the legs or tail of some dogs.
American Heritage Medicine
A feather or featherlike part fastened to the shaft of an arrow to help control its flight.
Webster's New World
Anything like or suggesting a feather or feathers in appearance, lightness, etc.
Webster's New World
Plumage.
Webster's New World
verb
feathered, feathering, feathers
To cover, fit, or fringe with or as with feathers.
Webster's New World
To provide (an arrow, etc.) with a feather.
Webster's New World
To thin, reduce, or fringe the edge of (wood, for example) by cutting, shaving, or making thinner.
American Heritage
To give a featheredge to.
Webster's New World
To spread (paint, for example) thinly at the edges so as to blend with the surrounding area.
American Heritage
idiom
feather in (one's) cap
- An act or deed to one's credit; a distinctive achievement.
American Heritage
feather (one's) nest
- To grow wealthy by taking advantage of one's position or by making use of property or funds left in one's trust.
American Heritage
in fine
- In excellent form, health, or humor.
American Heritage
feather in one's cap
- a distinctive accomplishment; achievement worthy of pride
Webster's New World
feather one's nest
- to grow rich by taking advantage of circumstances
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Feather
Noun
Singular:
feather
Plural:
feathersIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Feather
Origin of Feather
-
From Middle English fether, from Old English feþer, from Proto-Germanic *feþrō, from Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ ~ pth₂én- (“feather, wing”), from *peth₂- (“to fly”). The Indo-European root is also the source of Greek πέτομαι (petomai), Albanian shpend (“bird”), Latin penna, Old Armenian թիռ (tʿiṙ).
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English fether from Old English pet- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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