feather

¹feath·er

noun \ˈfe-thər\

Definition of FEATHER

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

Examples of FEATHER

1. <the two brothers are sports-obsessed jocks, and most of their friends are of the same feather>
2. <prom couples strutted into the ballroom in full feather>

Illustration of FEATHER

Origin of FEATHER

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FEATHER

Synonyms: breed, class, description, sort, genre, ilk, kidney, kind, like, manner, nature, order, species, strain, stripe, type, variety

Related Words: model; sample, specimen; bracket, bunch, category, division, family, grade, group, grouping, lot, persuasion, rank(s), set, suite

Near Antonyms: tatters; disarray, dishabille

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

Rhymes with FEATHER

heather, leather, nether, tether, weather, wether, whether