contour feather
noun
: one of the medium-sized feathers that form the general covering of a bird and determine the external contour
Examples of contour feather in a Sentence
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The contour feathers that streamline a bird’s body, for example, have vaned tips like flight feathers and noninterlocking barbs like down ones.
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Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
The contour feathers interlock and overlap with tiny barbs (actually called barbules), forming a water and windproof protective outer layer on their bodies.
—Cori Brown, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 20 Oct. 2019
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Michael B. Habib, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
The contour feathers interlock and overlap with tiny barbs (actually called barbules), forming a water and windproof protective outer layer on their bodies.
—Cori Brown, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, 20 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Contour feather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contour%20feather. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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