: any of the light, horny, epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds
Note:
Feathers include the smaller down feathers and the larger contour and flight feathers. Larger feathers consist of a shaft (rachis) bearing branches (barbs) which bear smaller branches (barbules). These smaller branches bear tiny hook-bearing processes (barbicels) which interlock with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous stiff vane. Down feathers lack barbules, resulting in fluffy feathers which provide insulation below the contour feathers.
Noun
they are a very sports-minded couple, and most of their friends are of the same feather
prom couples strutted into the ballroom in full feather
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Swans use a special oil gland and their saliva to keep their feathers white.—Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 7 June 2024 As the parrots soar squawking past their home, the couple can readily identify bird No. 17 by its smooth feathers and can tell No. 16 from No. 22, which has two beads attached to its radio collar.—Fabiano Maisonnave, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 May 2024
Verb
That’s the way racing is … chicken one day, feathers the next.—John Sturbin, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 May 2024 Taking medications, washing your hands, and removing carpets are a few ways to treat a pet dander allergy caused by cats, dogs, or other furry or feathered pets.—Ray Hainer, Health, 3 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for feather
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'feather.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
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
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
: 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
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