plural. The quill-feathers of a bird's wing; in quot. 1486 the cubital or secondary feathers of a hawk's wing. Also attributive.

Any of the flight feathers of a bird's wing; spec. a primary feather.

A quill feather of a bird's wing. Obsolete.

any of the main wing and tail feathers (remiges and rectrices) of a bird.

Ornithology. Each of the flight feathers of a bird's wing; a primary or secondary feather. Usually in plural. Cf. rectrix, n. 3, remicle, n.

In later use collective the flight feathers, or those used in flying.

one of the wing-feathers on which a bird depends for its power of flight.

Ornithology. A primary flight feather (cf. sense A. 15). Usually in plural.

Ornithology. = remex, n. 2. Usually in plural. rare.

A small outermost wing feather in some birds, attached to the second phalanx of the second digit. Cf. remex, n. 2.

= pen-feather, n. 1; also figurative.