feather

feath·er

noun \ˈfeth-ər\

Definition of FEATHER

: one 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 the hooked processes and interlocking with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous vane

—feath·ered \-ərd\ adjective