: 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
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Noun
Appearing on the Thursday, March 13, episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress showed up in an off-white matching set — which was completely consumed by the voluminous feather lining on her lapel and sleeve cuffs.—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025 Texture play defined the week, with feathers, shearling and embellishments adding depth and intrigue.—Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The path led across a watery prairie feathered with saw grass.—Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025 Fowler feathered a lead pass for Bolduc, who had gained speed in the neutral zone and effortlessly split two Ducks defenders, Jacob Trouba and Pavel Mintyukov, to dart in on goal and bank the puck off Dostál and into the net.—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for feather
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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