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 b archaic : plume 2a c : the vane of an arrow
2 a : plumage b : kind, nature <birds of a feather flock together> c : attire, dress d : condition, mood <woke up in fine feather> e plural : composure <some feathers had been ruffled — D. J. Blum>
3 : feathering 2
4 : a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange
5 : a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone
6 : 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]