单词 | feather |
释义 | feathern. I. As an appendage. 1. a. One of the epidermal appendages of a bird, usually in the form of a central shaft or midrib, of a horny nature, in part tubular, for the rest square in section and solid, fringed on either side with a ‘vane’, i.e. a row of thin narrow plates mutually adpressed (the ‘barbs’), which form a rounded outline at the end. Often preceded by some qualifying word, as contour-, covert-, pin-, quill- etc. feather. In plural also plumage. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > feather > [noun] featherOE pena1398 quill?a1425 plumec1475 OE Phoenix 145 Þonne swiað he ond hlyst gefeð, heafde onbrygdeð, þrist, þonces gleaw, ond þriwa ascæceð feþre flyhthwate; fugol bið geswiged. ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 113 Ase brid þe haueð lute flech & feole fiðeren. a1250 Owl & Nightingale 1668 Ne schal..a wrecche feþer on ow bileve. 1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. xv. 173 Þe pokok and þe popeiay with here proude federes. 1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 152/2 Fedyr, penna, pluma. 1508 Bp. J. Fisher Wks. (1867) 154 She proyneth & setteth her feders in ordre. 1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. x. 88 The best part of a Duck are his feathers. 1748 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage I. 155 The whole Feathers (excepting the Pinion Feathers, and the large Feathers of the Tail) are double. 1870 J. Yeats Nat. Hist. Commerce 309 A feather consists of three parts, the quill, the shaft, and the vane. b. In various figurative expressions: †two feathers out of a goose: a very small part of anything. †to gain more feathers: (of a rumour) to assume larger proportions. to make the feathers fly: to cause a disturbance, to ‘stir up’ someone. †to pick feathers off (a person): to plunder. †to pull the feathers off (a person's fame): to detract from. to smooth one's rumpled feathers: to recover one's equanimity. to crop the feathers of: to strip of bravery and pomp. you could (or might) have knocked me (etc.) down with a feather (and similar expressions): used hyperbolically = I was much surprised, astounded, etc. Cf. white feather n. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension to make strife1303 to make the feathers flyc1430 to stir the coals1539 to make mischiefc1572 to blow the bellows1590 to blow the fire1670 to stir the pot1826 to stir (also rouse) the possum1900 to mix it1950 the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > detract from [verb (transitive)] to pull the feathers off (a person's fame)c1430 takec1475 spoil1553 to take away1779 the world > space > extension in space > expansion or enlargement > expand or enlarge [verb (intransitive)] greateOE grow1382 enlarge1481 to gain more feathers1600 spread1611 burnish1624 sizea1631 dilate1636 greaten1638 expatiate1650 widen1650 biggen1652 expand1791 magnify1814 society > communication > information > rumour > [verb (transitive)] > (of a rumour) assume larger proportions to gain more feathers1600 the mind > possession > poverty > make poor or impoverish [verb (transitive)] > by depredations or extortions to poll and pill1528 to peel and poll1641 to pick feathers off (a person)1677 the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > robbery > spoliation or depredation > despoil or prey upon [verb (transitive)] reaveOE stripa1225 pill?c1225 robc1225 peela1250 despoil1297 raimc1300 spoilc1330 spoila1340 to pull a finch (also pigeon, plover, etc.)c1387 despoil1393 preya1400 spoila1400 spulyiea1400 unspoila1400 riflec1400 poll1490 to pill and poll1528 to poll and pill1528 exspoila1530 pilyie1539 devour?1542 plume1571 rive1572 bepill1574 fleece1575 to prey over1576 pread1577 disvaledge1598 despoliate1607 to make spoil of1613 expilate1624 to peel and poll1641 depredate1651 violatea1657 disvalise1672 to pick feathers off (a person)1677 to make stroy of1682 spoliate1699 pilfer1714 snabble1725 rump1815 vampire1832 sweat1847 ploat1855 vampirize1888 the world > relative properties > wholeness > incompleteness > part of whole > [noun] > a small part or proportion > very a drop in the (a) bucket or the oceana1382 two feathers out of a goose1677 the mind > mental capacity > expectation > surprise, unexpectedness > expressing surprise [phrase] it (or that) is (was, were, etc.) no wonder1362 it is (a) wondera1400 the wonder is‥1608 you could (or might) have knocked me (etc.) down with a feather1740 think1746 for a wonder1782 to hush one's mouth1903 you'd be surprised1926 the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)] anitherOE fellOE lowc1175 to lay lowc1225 to set adownc1275 snuba1340 meekc1350 depose1377 aneantizea1382 to bring lowa1387 declinea1400 meekenc1400 to pull downc1425 avalec1430 to-gradea1440 to put downc1440 humble1484 alow1494 deject?1521 depress1526 plucka1529 to cut (rarely to cast down) the comb of?1533 to bring down1535 to bring basec1540 adbass1548 diminish1560 afflict1561 to take down1562 to throw down1567 debase1569 embase1571 diminute1575 to put (also thrust) a person's nose out of jointc1576 exinanite1577 to take (a person) a peg lower1589 to take (a person) down a peg (or two)1589 disbasea1592 to take (a person) down a buttonhole (or two)1592 comb-cut1593 unpuff1598 atterr1605 dismount1608 annihilate1610 crest-fall1611 demit1611 pulla1616 avilea1617 to put a scorn on, upon1633 mortify1639 dimit1658 to put a person's pipe out1720 to let down1747 to set down1753 humiliate1757 to draw (a person's) eyeteeth1789 start1821 squabash1822 to wipe a person's eye1823 to crop the feathers of1827 embarrass1839 to knock (also take, etc.) (a person) off his or her perch1864 to sit upon ——1864 squelch1864 to cut out of all feather1865 to sit on ——1868 to turn down1870 to score off1882 to do (a person) in the eye1891 puncture1908 to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908 to cut down to size1927 flatten1932 to slap (a person) down1938 punk1963 the mind > emotion > calmness > be calm [phrase] > recover composure to smooth one's rumpled feathers1853 c1430 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1544) i. xii. 24 a Of his good fame she gan the feders pull. 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. (1609) ix. xxxviii. 342 The brute..got more feathers still as it flew. 1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 24 All that is, desired is but two Feathers out of their Goose. 1677 A. Yarranton England's Improvem. 25 The Lawyers Objections are only made..that they may pick some more Feathers off him. 1740 S. Richardson Pamela I. vii. 13 I was so confounded at these Words, you might have beat me down with a Feather. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. iv. 94 If my New York master..had hold o' him; he'd make the feathers fly. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan II. xxiii. 339 When they are at home..how the feathers fly! 1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. v. 251 Vanity, With a good conscience pleased, her feathers cropped. 1841 C. Dickens Barnaby Rudge lix. 283 ‘She's in an excited state to-night,’ said Simon, as he smoothed his rumpled feathers. 1843 [see sense 10a]. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel III. ix. xiii. 69 You might have knocked them down with a feather! 1924 C. Mackenzie Heavenly Ladder v. 75 At present you could knock me down on a feather, as old Mrs. Geary used to say, I'm that overgone by it all. 1930 W. S. Maugham Cakes & Ale vii. 89 When I..saw Rosie standing there, you could 'ave knocked me down with a feather. 1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 5/5 You could have knocked me over with a feather. c. Proverb. ΚΠ 1714 B. Mandeville Fable Bees i. 103 Fine Feathers make fine Birds. d. transferred. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > ice > body of ice > [noun] > icicle > tiny feather-like feather1785 the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun] > freezing or frosty weather > frost > formations > specific spicula1783 feather1785 frost-flower1802 frost-fern1860 1785 W. Cowper Task v. 26 The bents..fledged with icy feathers, nod superb. 1820 P. B. Shelley Prometheus Unbound iv. i. 134 Its plumes are as feathers of sunny frost. 2. a. collective. Plumage; also transferred (of plants); and in figurative sense: Attire, ‘get-up’. all fowls in feather = birds of all feather. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > feather > [noun] > collective or plumage featherhama800 plumeOE plumagec1395 feathera1400 shrouda1400 hacklea1450 plomaylec1475 pennage1591 gander's wool1600 feathering1721 plumery1795 plumeletage1855 the world > plants > part of plant > leaf > [noun] > leaves or foliage shadec1000 leafOE felourea1400 filourc1400 hair1551 leafage1599 foliage1601 umbrage1657 foliature1682 folia1730 greenery1826 leafery1834 feather1842 leafdom1856 leaf mass1857 greening1895 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] wearing?c1225 guisec1275 attire1382 habita1420 shapea1425 trick1542 fashion1544 trim1579 suit shape1598 garb1608 form1664 toilet1752 macaroni dressa1777 turn-out1812 style1814 set-out1834 get-up1842 rig1843 feather1854 model1859 make-up1883 a1400–50 Alexander 5604 Þar fand þai bridis..Of feþir fresch as any fame. c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 343 All fowles in ffether fell þere vppon. a1635 T. Randolph Amyntas ii. iii. 30 in Poems (1638) What's their Feather? 1842 Ld. Tennyson Talking Oak lxviii, in Poems (new ed.) II. 81 All grass of silky feather grow. 1842 G. Darling in Hist. Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 2 10 Which proved to be the male in tolerable feather and condition. 1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes (1855) II. iv. 34 I saw him in full clerical feather. b. In figurative phrases. in fine, good, high, etc., feather: in good condition of health, spirits, etc. in full feather: see quots. Of the weather: high feather = brilliant condition. †a man of (the first) feather: one of (very) showy parts. to cut out of all feather: to take all ‘the shine’ out of. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [noun] > smart person a man of (the first) feather1592 pink1602 smart1709 flasher1755 swell1786 dasher1807 smarty1847 city slicker1914 Roy1960 the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > wearing clothing > [adjective] > showily or fancily dressed > in specific way in full feather1834 Sundayfied1852 Sundayed1873 partified1928 power-dressed1984 the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > healthy wholeeOE isoundOE i-sundfulc1000 ferec1175 soundc1175 fish-wholea1225 forthlyc1230 steadfasta1300 wella1300 safec1300 tidya1325 halec1330 quartc1330 well-faringc1330 well-tempered1340 well-disposeda1398 wealyc1400 furnished1473 mighty?a1475 quartful?c1475 good1527 wholesomea1533 crank1548 healthful1550 healthy1552 hearty1552 healthsome1563 well-affected?1563 disposed1575 as sound as a bell1576 firm1577 well-conditioned1580 sound1605 unvaletudinary1650 all right1652 valid1652 as sound as a (alsoany) roach1655 fair-like1663 hoddy1664 wanton1674 stout?1697 trig1704 well-hained1722 sprack1747 caller1754 sane1755 finely1763 bobbish1780 cleverly1784 right1787 smart1788 fine1791 eucratic1795 nobbling1825 as right as a trivet1835 first rate1841 in fine, good, high, etc., feather1844 gay1855 sprackish1882 game ball1905 abled1946 well-toned1952 a hundred per cent1960 oke1960 the mind > emotion > humility > humiliation > humiliate [verb (transitive)] anitherOE fellOE lowc1175 to lay lowc1225 to set adownc1275 snuba1340 meekc1350 depose1377 aneantizea1382 to bring lowa1387 declinea1400 meekenc1400 to pull downc1425 avalec1430 to-gradea1440 to put downc1440 humble1484 alow1494 deject?1521 depress1526 plucka1529 to cut (rarely to cast down) the comb of?1533 to bring down1535 to bring basec1540 adbass1548 diminish1560 afflict1561 to take down1562 to throw down1567 debase1569 embase1571 diminute1575 to put (also thrust) a person's nose out of jointc1576 exinanite1577 to take (a person) a peg lower1589 to take (a person) down a peg (or two)1589 disbasea1592 to take (a person) down a buttonhole (or two)1592 comb-cut1593 unpuff1598 atterr1605 dismount1608 annihilate1610 crest-fall1611 demit1611 pulla1616 avilea1617 to put a scorn on, upon1633 mortify1639 dimit1658 to put a person's pipe out1720 to let down1747 to set down1753 humiliate1757 to draw (a person's) eyeteeth1789 start1821 squabash1822 to wipe a person's eye1823 to crop the feathers of1827 embarrass1839 to knock (also take, etc.) (a person) off his or her perch1864 to sit upon ——1864 squelch1864 to cut out of all feather1865 to sit on ——1868 to turn down1870 to score off1882 to do (a person) in the eye1891 puncture1908 to put (a person) in (also into) his, her place1908 to cut down to size1927 flatten1932 to slap (a person) down1938 punk1963 the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > fine weather > [noun] > condition of fairness1574 brightness1656 fineness1721 high feather1878 1592 T. Nashe Pierce Penilesse (Brit. Libr. copy) sig. G2 v You shall heare a Caualier of the first feather. 1668 J. Dryden Secret-love v. i. 52 A man of Garniture and Feather is above the dispensation of the Sword. 1781 G. Selwyn Let. in 15th Rep. Royal Comm. Hist. MSS (1897) App. vi. 505 He [sc. C. J. Fox] is in high feather. 1834 W. N. Glascock Naval Sketch-bk. 2nd Ser. I. 149 A lady in full feather approached the sentinel on the sward. 1842 H. Lawrence Let. 20 June in H. B. Edwardes & H. Merivale Life Sir H. Lawrence (1872) I. ix. 389 Havelock, in great feather, showed us round the fields of battle. 1844 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit liv. 615 Todgers's was in high feather. 1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour iii. xiii. 65 Our friend..was now in good feather; he had got a large price for his good-for-nothing horse. 1855 J. E. Cooke Ellie 476 No words can describe the serene effulgence of the Heartsease appearance, when in full feather, and high spirits. 1856 C. Dickens Little Dorrit (1857) i. xxxii. 286 I'm in wonderful feather. 1860 J. C. Hotten Dict. Slang (ed. 2) 138 In full feather, rich. 1865 W. Scott in Reader No. 121. 452/3 She cut me out of all feather. 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. 327 Full feather, attired in best dress or uniform. 1878 T. Hardy Return of Native I. i. i. 8 In summer days of highest feather. 1886 S. Baring-Gould Court Royal xxiv Never was Mr. Rigsby in finer feather than at Court Royal. 1886 Graphic 30 Jan. 130/2 Watty, by reason of his office [of butler], was of course always ‘in full feather’. c. Description of plumage; species (of bird). Often transferred in phrases of the same, that, every, etc. feather: = of the same, etc. kind or character. Proverb, birds of a feather flock together. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adjective] ylikeeOE likeOE anlikeOE accordanta1325 of a (also one) mouldc1330 kindred1340 lichy1370 likelyc1384 alikea1393 ontinkela1400 evenly?c1400 similable?a1440 semble1449 of a sort1463 seemable1501 uniform1548 resembled1553 self-like1556 like-natured1566 resembling1573 kindlike1579 of the same, that, every, etc. feather1581 resemblant1581 marrow1585 similar1586 like-seeming1590 twin-like1599 connatural1601 similary1610 semblativea1616 otherlike1620 like-shaped1640 connate1641 homogeneous1641 consimilar1645 congenerous1646 resemblancing1652 congeniousa1656 congenerate1657 equaliform1660 congenial1669 similitive1678 symbolizant1685 synonymous1690 of akin1723 consimilary1736 like-sized1742 cogeneric1777 alike as a row of pins1785 congenerica1834 Siamese1833 congener1867 lak1881 sorty1885 homoeomorphic1902 homogenized1958 the world > relative properties > kind or sort > in respect of kind [phrase] > of the same kind birds of a feather1545 birds of a feather flock together1581 of the same, that, every, etc. feather1581 the world > animals > birds > feather > [noun] > species described by feather1581 1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 300 A Byrd of the same feather. 1599 R. Percyvall & J. Minsheu Spanish Gram. 83 Birdes of a feather will flocke togither. 1608 J. Day Humour out of Breath sig. F4v A whole brood of signets, and all of a feather. 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Alaine A bird of his owne feather. a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) i. i. 102 I am not of that Feather, to shake off My Friend when he must neede me. View more context for this quotation 1645 S. Rutherford Tryal & Trivmph of Faith (1845) 60 Fowls of a feather flock together. 1650 R. Stapleton tr. F. Strada De Bello Belgico v. 121 Many of the Covenanters were birds of the same feather. 1665 J. Spencer Disc. Vulgar Prophecies 70 He knows good men are soonest decoyed by those which seem of a feather with themselves. 1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ Another Traveller! II. 48 Four hundred and fifty of them..will be of the misjudging feather. 1827 R. Pollok Course of Time I. v. 213 Birds of social feather helping each His fellow's flight. 1829 T. Carlyle German Playwrights in Foreign Rev. Jan. 98 Literary quacks of every feather. 1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 4 Ferns of all feather. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > wing or wings featherhama800 featherc850 pensa1382 sail1590 c850 Martyrology Fragm. in Old Eng. Texts (1885) 177 Þa hi bæron to heofonum mid hiora fiðra flyhte. c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxvi. §2 Ic hæbbe swiþe swifte feþera. c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 37 Swa seo henn hyre cicenu under hyre fyþeru [c1160 Hatton fiþera] gegaderað. c1200 Vices & Virtues (1888) 101 Vnder ðare scadewe of ðine fiðeres. c1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 64/357 And feþerene to beren eow up-on heiȝ. a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xvii. 12 He flow abouen þe feþirs of wyndes. c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. xxiii Ȝeue me feders of very liberte. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) 2 Sam. xxii. 11 He..appeared vpon the fethers of the wynde. 1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. i. viii. §15. 172 Iosephus gaue all Noahs children feathers, to carry them farre away. a1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. ii. 174 Be Mercurie, set feathers to thy heeles. View more context for this quotation 4. A feathered animal; a bird. Also collective. Feathered game. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > [noun] > bird fowlOE bird?c1225 wing1601 feathera1616 feather-monger1767 feathered friend1933 the world > animals > birds > wild or domestic birds > [noun] > game-bird > collective fowls of warren1539 feathera1616 fowl1646 wing-game1879 a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. i. 63 Like the Haggard, checke at euery Feather . View more context for this quotation 1684 R. Howlett School Recreat. 136 Your Setting-Dog must..love naturally to hunt Feathers. 1875 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports (ed. 12) i. i. vii. §7. 106 The true Sussex may easily be kept strictly to feather. 1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 24 Aug. 13/2 He wandered..slaying whatever of fur and feather came in his way. II. As a detached object. 5. a. Simply; also plural as a commodity. ΚΠ c1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 234 Smyre mid nire [i.e. niwre] feþere. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 1026 For..folde þer-on a lyȝt fyþer & hit to founs synkkez. c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) xii. 50 If men caste a fether þerin, it synkez to þe grund. c1440 Anc. Cookery in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (1790) 469 And with a feder sprinke and spot the congour. 1605 Bp. J. Hall Medit. & Vowes II. §25 The Larke..while it playeth with the feather..is caught in the Fowlers net. 1608 Bp. J. Hall Epist. I. i. ix. 92 That was but as the Fowlers feather, to make mee stoope. a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 3 (1623) iii. i. 83 Looke, as I blow this Feather from my Face. View more context for this quotation 1725 D. Defoe Compl. Eng. Tradesman I. xxvi. 404 The Feathers also from the same country. 1800 tr. E. J. B. Bouillon-Lagrange Man. Course Chem. II. 422 Feathers..give nearly the same products as hair. 1841 R. W. Emerson Prudence in Ess. 1st Ser. (London ed.) 237 Every thing in nature, even motes and feathers, go by law. b. Proverb. ΚΠ 1861 A. Leighton Curious Storied Trad. Sc. Life 2nd Ser. 263 There's aye feathers where the doo [doves] roosts. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > other specific shapes > [noun] > object shaped like feather(s) featherc1000 plume1730 aigrette1786 society > communication > writing > writing materials > writing instrument > [noun] > pen > quill pen featherc1000 swan-pen1426 goose-quill1552 quill1552 goose-pena1616 pen1653 quill pen1725 crow-quill1740 twill1825 swan-quill1839 c1000 West Saxon Gospels: Luke (Corpus Cambr.) xvi. 6 Nim þine feðere & site hraðe & writ fiftig. c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 26 Feþeren [c1300 Otho Feþere] he [sc. Laȝamon] nom mid fingren. 1784 S. C. King in Med. Observ. & Inquiries VI. xxii. 231 I send you a feather or pen..extracted from the œsophagus of a man. 7. A portion, or (singular and plural) portions, of a feather attached to the base of an arrow, to direct its flight. Also collective. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > missile > arrow > [noun] > feathered part > feathers feathering1530 feather1622 plume1808 1622 M. Drayton 2nd Pt. Poly-olbion xxvi. 122 Their Arrowes finely pair'd, for Timber, and for Feather. 1661 R. Boyle Some Considerations Style Script. 90 Those Historical Circumstances..are like the Feathers that wing our Arrows. 1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VII. lxxxvii.* 324 Whether..the barbed dart..sticks not in their hearts..up to the very feathers. 1825 T. D. Fosbroke Encycl. Antiq. II. xiii. 613 They required nimble strong arrows, with a middling feather. 1869 C. Boutell tr. J. P. Lacombe Arms & Armour viii. 134 The shafts of these arrows were provided, near their base, with feathers, or with strips of leather. 8. a. As a personal decoration; a plume, esp. in ostrich feather. Also collective. With the: = Prince of Wales feathers n. at Prince of Wales n. 1 flush feather: see quot. 1823.Prince of Wales feathers: see Prince of Wales n. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > feather feather1473 1473 J. Warkworth Chron. 14 He..wered ane estryche feder. c1600 Wriothesley's Chron. Eng. (1875) I. 51 Hattes of blake velwett and whyte feethers. 1615 J. Stephens Ess. & Characters (new ed.) 211 Hee stickes a feather in his Hat. 1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII i. iii. 25 They must..leaue those remnants Of Foole and Feather . View more context for this quotation 1745 E. Young Complaint: Night the Eighth 22 Not in the Feather, wave it e'er so high..Is Glory lodg'd. 1802 J. Wolcot Great Cry & Little Wool in Wks. (1812) V. 166 The tradesmen..proud of the feather. 1804 Parl. Deb. 1st Ser. 2 503 The volunteers have..feathers as high..as those of the regular troops. 1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. Feather (Mil.), an ornamental mark worn by officers and soldiers on their caps and hats..the flush feather, a straight smooth feather worn by officers on the staff. 1887 Pall Mall Gaz. 27 Sept. 11/1 The Prince of Wales's feathers stand separate. b. Phrases: a feather in the cap, hat: a decoration, mark of honour, literal and figurative (also elliptical); also †the badge of a fool; hence †Jack with the feather, a plume of feathers, for a trifling person. †to shake, wag the feather: to make a display of one's honours. ΘΚΠ the mind > emotion > pride > vainglory > behave vaingloriously [verb (intransitive)] to lift up the horn1570 to shake, wag the feather1581 to play the peacock1656 the mind > emotion > pride > ostentation > make ostentatious display or show off [verb (intransitive)] brandishc1340 ruffle1484 braga1556 swash1556 flourish1563 flaunt1566 prank1567 prink1573 to shake, wag the feather1581 peacockize1598 air1605 display1608 to launch it out1608 flasha1616 to cut it out1619 flare1633 vapour1652 peacock1654 spark1676 to gallantrize it1693 bosh1709 glare1712 to cut a bosh1726 to show away1728 to figure away, off1749 parade1749 to cut a dashc1771 dash1786 to cut up1787 to cut a flash1795 to make, or cut, a splash1804 swank1809 to come out strong1825 to cut a spludge1831 to cut it (too) fat1836 pavonize1838 splurge1844 to do the grand1847 to cut a swath1848 to cut a splurge1860 to fan out1860 spread1860 skyre1871 fluster1876 to strut one's stuff1926 showboat1937 floss1938 style1968 the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > stupid, foolish, or inadequate person > foolish person, fool > [noun] dizzyc825 cang?c1225 foolc1225 apec1330 mopc1330 saddle-goosec1346 mis-feelinga1382 foltc1390 mopec1390 fona1400 buffardc1430 fopc1440 joppec1440 fonda1450 fondlinga1450 insipienta1513 plume of feathers1530 bobolynec1540 dizzard1546 Little Witham?1548 nodc1563 dawkin1565 cocknel1566 nigion1570 niddicock1577 nodcock1577 cuckoo1581 Jack with the feather1581 niddipol1582 noddyship?1589 stirkc1590 fonkin1591 Gibraltar1593 fopper1598 noddypeak1598 coxcombry1600 simple1600 gowka1605 nup1607 fooliaminy1608 silly ass1608 dosser-head1612 dor1616 glow-worm1624 liripipea1625 doodle1629 sop1637 spalt1639 fool's head1650 buffle1655 Jack Adams1656 bufflehead1659 nincompoopc1668 bavian1678 nokes1679 foolanea1681 cod1699 hulver-head1699 nigmenog1699 single ten1699 mud1703 dowf1722 foolatum1740 silly billy1749 tommy noddy1774 arsec1785 nincom1800 silly1807 slob1810 omadhaun1818 potwalloper1820 mosy1824 amadan1825 gump1825 gype1825 oonchook1825 prawn1845 suck-egg1851 goosey1852 nowmun1854 pelican1856 poppy-show1860 buggerlugs1861 damfool1881 mudhead1882 yob1886 peanut head1891 haggis bag1892 poop1893 gazob1906 mush1906 wump1908 zob1911 gorm1912 goof1916 goofus1916 gubbins1916 dumb cluck1922 twat1922 B.F.1925 goofer1925 bird brain1926 berk1929 Berkeley1929 Berkeley Hunt1929 ding1929 loogan1929 stupido1929 poop-stick1930 nelly1931 droop1932 diddy1933 slappy1937 goof ball1938 get1940 poon1940 tonk1941 clot1942 yuck1943 possum1945 gobdaw1947 momo1953 nig-nog1953 plonker1955 weenie1956 nong-nong1959 Berkshire Hunt1960 balloon1965 doofus1965 dork1965 nana1965 shit-for-brains1966 schmoll1967 tosspot1967 lunchbox1969 doof1971 tonto1973 dorkus1979 motorhead1979 mouth-breather1979 wally1980 wally brain1981 der-brain1983 langer1983 numpty1985 sotong1988 fanny1995 fannybaws2000 the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant unknownc1390 pawnc1450 semi-cipher?1550 bauble1570 Jack with the feather1581 nobody1583 winterling1585 squash1600 rush candle1628 niflec1635 nullity1657 nonentity1710 featherweight1812 underscrub1822 nyaff1825 small fish1836 no-account1840 little fish1846 peanut1864 commonplacer1874 sparrow-fart1886 Little Willie1901 pipsqueak1905 nebbish1907 pie-biter1911 blob1916 smallie1930 no-count1932 zilch1933 Mickey Mouse1935 muzhik1945 nerd1951 nothingburger1953 nerk1955 non-person1959 no-mark1982 the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant > insubstantial > frivolous or not serious pickstraw1580 Jack with the feather1581 fiddler1591 fribble1610 trifler1612 fribbler1712 toyer1814 frivolist1884 namby-pamby1885 frivoller1889 footler1891 frivol1959 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > honour > [noun] > conferring of honour > an) honour(s) or distinction worshipOE mensk?c1225 pre-eminence1433 honoura1500 pre-eminency1555 a feather in the cap, hat1581 garland1591 honorarium1609 honorary1610 blushing honours1623 signal1655 gayness1670 honourability1694 honourable mention1797 special mention1886 the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > reputation > good repute > [noun] > a source of credit or honour (to) worshipeOE honourc1325 glorya1382 diadem1526 credit1586 plume1605 honestation1629 reputation1653 a feather in the cap, hat1699 1581 G. Pettie tr. S. Guazzo Ciuile Conuersat. (1586) Pref. sig. A vjv Though a man shake the feather after the best fashion, and take upon him never so biglie, hee [etc.]. 1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iv. i. 93 What plume of fethers is he that indited this letter? View more context for this quotation a1633 Flodden F. xii, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1889) III. vi. clxviii. 353 Jack with a feather was lapt all in leather. 1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 205 He wore a feather in his cap, and wagg'd it too often. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew (at cited word) He has a Feather in his Cap, a Periphrasis for a Fool. 1734 Duchess of Portland in M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) I. 511 My Lord..esteems it a feather in his hat, that [etc.]. 1736 T. Lediard Life Marlborough III. 370 A Feather in his Cap, was the least that was expected for him. 1819 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto I cxcix. 102 Their favour in an author's cap's a feather. 1825 A. Constable Let. 2 May in J. Constable Corr. (1962) 220 I expect your Barge Horse will do wonders for you—only think of the Medal, what a feather it is. 1875 A. Helps Social Pressure v. 70 It is always a feather in my cap when Cranmer condescends to approve of any part of anything I say. 1958 Times 22 Oct. 14/1 Had Slater collected these two feathers to go with yesterday's collection he would have had a memorable match. 1968 J. F. Straker SIN & Johnny Inch 211 Strip off if you feel like it; I reckon this has been quite a feather. 9. In plural. As material for filling bedding, etc. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > other animal raw materials > [noun] > feathers feathersa1657 flags1892 society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > bedding > [noun] > mattress > filled with feathers > down or feathers for feathersa1657 a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia: Richard II clxxviii, in Poems (1878) III. 181 Richard..Sleeps on the feathers which himselfe had drest. 10. a. Referred to as an object almost without weight, and capable of being moved with the greatest ease. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > [noun] > that which is light > typically feather1546 thistledown1868 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue i. xi. sig. Eiiv If your meete mate and you meete together, Than shall we see two men beare a fether. a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) ii. iii. 154 I am a Feather for each Wind that blows. View more context for this quotation 1728 A. Pope Dunciad ii. 28 A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead. a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) I. 232 Folly's breath..would not stir a feather. 1843 T. Hood Forge ii. xvi Fit for knocking down with a feather. 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin I. vii. 80 She felt the weight of her boy as if it had been a feather. 1872 W. Black Strange Adventures Phaeton xxii. 307 Tita, who weighs about a feather and a half. b. Hence: Anything of little strength or importance; a very small amount, a trifle. †(to be pleased) to a feather: to a nicety. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > extremely like mada1375 with a mischief1538 (as) — as anything1542 with a vengeance1568 with a siserary1607 (to be pleased) to a feathera1616 in (the) extremea1616 with the vengeance1693 to a degree1740 like hell1776 like the devil1791 like winky1830 like billy-o1885 (like) seven shades of ——1919 like a bandit1943 on wheels1943 the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial gnatc1000 ball play?c1225 smalla1250 triflec1290 fly1297 child's gamec1380 motec1390 mitec1400 child's playc1405 trufferyc1429 toyc1450 curiosity1474 fly-winga1500 neither mass nor matins1528 boys' play1538 nugament1543 knack?1544 fable1552 nincety-fincety1566 mouse1584 molehill1590 coot1594 scoff1594 nidgery1611 pin matter1611 triviality1611 minuity1612 feathera1616 fillip1621 rattle1622 fiddlesticka1625 apex1625 rush candle1628 punctilio1631 rushlight1635 notchet1637 peppercorn1638 petty John1640 emptiness1646 fool-fangle1647 nonny-no1652 crepundian1655 fly-biting1659 pushpin1660 whinny-whanny1673 whiffle1680 straw1692 two and a plack1692 fiddle1695 trivial1715 barley-strawa1721 nothingism1742 curse1763 nihility1765 minutia1782 bee's knee1797 minutiae1797 niff-naff1808 playwork1824 floccinaucity1829 trivialism1830 chicken feed1834 nonsensical1842 meemaw1862 infinitesimality1867 pinfall1868 fidfad1875 flummadiddle1882 quantité négligeable1885 quotidian1902 pipsqueak1905 hickey1909 piddle1910 cream puff1920 squat1934 administrivia1937 chickenshit1938 cream puff1938 diddly-squat1963 non-issue1965 Tinkertoy1972 a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) v. iii. 236 You boggle shrewdly, euery feather starts you. View more context for this quotation 1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 376 They must be pleased to a feather. a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 390 A straw and a feather shall forfeit all the Obligations in the World, in some Tempers. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Titter, to Laugh at a Feather. 1794 T. Jefferson Writings (1859) IV. 112 Rising at a feather against our friends. c. = featherweight n. to ride a feather: see quot. 1823. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > people involved in horse racing > [noun] > rider > types of feather1760 lightweight1773 welter1804 steeple hunter1830 a bad waster1833 steeplechaser1837 heavyweight1857 stoner1862 roper1870 point-to-pointer1929 jumping jockey1947 jump jockey1970 society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > horse racing > engage in horse racing [verb (intransitive)] > be weighed > weigh mounted ride1701 to ride a feather1823 1760 R. Heber Horse Matches ix. 20 Mr. Turner's bay..5 years old, carrying a feather. 1822 Examiner 232/2 Dr. Ph-ll-m-re, very light, a feather, took the field on his new rat-tail mare. 1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang Boys under six stone are said to ‘ride a feather’. III. Something resembling a feather. 11. a. On human beings: A tuft or ridge of hair standing more or less upright. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > hair > [noun] > tuft or ridge of nosegayc1500 tusk1530 feathera1533 tussock1550 tush1570 flacket1589 tuz1693 coxcomb1843 comb1869 a1533 Ld. Berners tr. Arthur of Brytayn (?1560) lxx. sig. Riii Arthur & Bawdwin..shoke theyr eares to put awaye the fethers fro their heyre. 1574 J. Baret Aluearie F 299 Feather..the curled bush of frizled heare (wherwith lusty gallant of late would seeme to counterfait this iolly feather. 1841 S. Warren Ten Thousand a-Year II. v What's a feather?.. You see, sir, 'tis when a small lot of hair on a gent's head will stick up, do all we can to try and get it down. 1851 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 680 He wore his hair cropped close, except just in front, where it formed what the hair-dresser called a feather. b. On horses: (see quot. 1803). Also on other animals. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > body or parts of horse > [noun] > coat > tuft or lock of hair feather1566 fuke1688 the world > animals > mammals > group Unguiculata or clawed mammal > family Canidae > dog > [noun] > defined by coat > coat or hair feather1878 pile1905 the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > cow > [noun] > (miscellaneous) parts of lully1688 huggin1740 feather1914 1566 T. Blundeville Arte of Rydynge (rev. ed.) i. ii. f. 3, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe The horse that hath an Ostriche fether..on his forheade..can neuer be euill horse. 1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Circhiello, that which is called a feather in a horse. 1607 G. Markham Cavelarice ii. 7 Euery horse..hath a feather in his fore-head. 1682 London Gaz. No. 1692/4 A light Grey Nag..a Feather in the..Neck. 1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. i. 7 Feathers, or different Turnings of the Hair, in several parts of a Horse's body. 1803 W. Taplin Sporting Dict. 248 Feather. The Centrical division, and different directions, of the surrounding hair in a horse's forehead is so called: they are also frequently seen upon the neck..the mane, and..the hind quarters, and are considered natural ornaments. 1878 C. Hallock Amer. Club List & Sportsman's Gloss. p. iv/2 Feather, the long, flowing hairs which adorn the legs of a dog. 1883 G. Stables Our Friend the Dog vii. 60 Feather, the long hair on chest, legs, and tail, &c., of some breeds. The hair generally. 1897 Outing 30 413/1 The coat [of the Russian wolfhound] is long.., forming a liberal ‘feather’ upon the legs, chest, belly and hindquarters. 1914 N.Z. Farmer Apr. Although the General Trend of the hair [sc. on the part between the hock and the vulva of a cow] is in an ascending direction there are variations on certain points where changes in the direction of the growth makes the hair stand up on ridges, sometimes forming figures. These variations are called feathers. There are in all seven feathers. 1 The Oval feather. 2 The Buttock feather. 3 The Babine feather. 4 The Vulvous feather. 5 The Bastard feather. 6 The Thigh feather. 7 The Dart feather. 1942 ‘M. Innes’ Daffodil Affair i. 30 ‘A nice dog,’ Appleby said... Mr. Gee swung round. ‘Dish-faced,’ he said... ‘Cow-hocked. No feather. Apple-headed. Pily’. 1954 E. Megargee Dog Dict. 47 There is abundant feather on the chest, belly, hindquarters, and legs [of a field spaniel]. c. The foamy crest of a wave. Cf. cut v. 38b. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > [noun] > crest ridgeOE white nose1771 feather1838 crest1864 sea-cap1867 comb1886 soup1962 peak1963 1838 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 1 272/1 The feather only of each wave would be seen. 1896 Daily News 10 July 3/6 White feathers from their bows. d. (See quot. 1929.) ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > types of waves > [noun] > small wave or ripple > left by protruding periscope feather1929 1929 Papers Michigan Acad. Sci., Arts & Lett. 10 292 Feather, the wake or ripple left by a protruding periscope. The ‘feather’ was often visible when the periscope was not. 1943 ‘T. Dudley-Gordon’ Coastal Command 28 You may pass by the tell-tale feather of a periscope. 12. A blemish or flaw having a feather-like appearance: a. in the eye. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > [noun] > other marks or spots spot1340 maculaa1400 nubecula1699 feather1847 conus1886 siderosis1892 the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [noun] > of eyes walleye1585 microphthalmy1721 microphthalmos1845 feather1847 cyclopia1849 heterophthalmy1854 irideremia1855 aniridia1860 aphakia1864 heterochromia1889 microphthalmia1890 anisocoria1902 hypertelorism1924 1847 C. J. Lever Knight of Gwynne xxxix. 335 He had only one [eye], there was a feather on the other. b. in a precious stone. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > gem or precious stone > [noun] > flaw ice1605 feather1866 1866 M. E. Braddon Lady's Mile 190 She had learned to discover a ‘feather’ in a fifty-guinea emerald ring. 1879 M. E. Braddon Vixen III. 293 I don't think there is a feather in one of the stones. 13. Confectionery. One of the degrees in boiling sugar. Also the great, little feather: see quots. Cf. French à la (grande, petite) plume. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > food > food manufacture and preparation > sugar manufacture > [noun] > stage in manufacture bloom1825 feather1827 string point1909 1827 G. A. Jarrin Italian Confectioner (ed. 3) 3 Confectioners..have seven essential..bases of their art..4. La plume, the feather. 1827 G. A. Jarrin Italian Confectioner (ed. 3) 4 The larger and greater quantity of bubbles, when blown through the skimmer, are the large feather. 1827 G. A. Jarrin Italian Confectioner (ed. 3) 9 Boil to the feather some of the same clarified sugar. 1827 G. A. Jarrin Italian Confectioner (ed. 3) 60 Clarify a pound of loaf sugar, boil it to the large feather. 1829 G. A. Jarrin Italian Confectioner (ed. 4) 177 Take a pound of clarified sugar, boil to the little feather. 1883 Workshop Receipts 2nd Ser. 152 For the ‘feather,’ dip the skimmer again into the sugar, and blow through the holes as before. 14. In various phrases: (to wear) the bull's feather: see bull n.1 Compounds 3b. Nautical to cut a feather: see cut v. 38b. In quot. figurative. To move briskly. ΚΠ 1684 T. Goddard Plato's Demon 317 Men who..have not the skill to cut a feather, very often dance themselves into that noose. 1821 W. Scott Pirate III. vii. 151 He shambles about..as well as ever he did—for Jack could never cut a feather. 15. In various technical uses. a. A longitudinal rib added to a shaft, etc. to increase its strength. ΘΚΠ the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > supporting rod > like a rib riba1450 feather1814 tie-rib1896 1814 R. Buchanan Ess. Shafts of Mills i. 24 Apply the feathers merely to prevent bending in the middle. 1839 R. S. Robinson Naut. Steam Engine Explained 63 Z is a strengthening feather, under the crank frame. 1839 R. S. Robinson Naut. Steam Engine Explained 65 From the eye run six strong arched radii or feathers, terminating in a ledge. 1867 W. Papworth Gwilt's Encycl. Archit. (rev. ed.) ii. i. 435 Transverse ribs or feathers on cast iron beams are to be avoided. b. Mining and Quarrying. (see quot.) ΚΠ 1865 J. T. F. Turner Familiar Descr. Old Delabole Slate Quarries 13 A hole is jumped in the block [of slate] near the edge; in this, two slightly curved pieces of iron are placed (the ‘feathers’), having the concave surfaces toward each other, between them is inserted an iron punch; this is forcibly hammered in, and breaks the stone asunder. 1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining Feathers. [Describes a similar contrivance in coal mines.] c. A projection on a board, implement, or piece of machinery; esp. one intended to fit into some other part. Cf. fin n.1 ΚΠ 1762 A. Dickson Treat. Agric. ii. vii. 190 The firm earth..is opened by the feather of the other soke. 1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 828/1 Feather, a slip inserted longitudinally into a shaft or arbor, and projecting as a fin therefrom so as to fit a groove. 1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. I. 828/1 Feather, a tongue on the edge of a board. 1881 F. J. Britten Watch & Clockmakers' Handbk. (ed. 4) 140 There is a feather in the straight part of the mandrel hole. d. Salt-works. (see quot. 1753). ΚΠ 1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Mid-Feather in the English salt-works, the name given to a sort of partition placed in the middle of the furnace..This partition divides the body of the furnace into two chambers. e. dialect. ‘A linch-pin; a pin used to keep machinery tight’ (E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. 1877). ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > parts of machines > other parts > [noun] > devices for securing or uniting parts key1434 chevel-bolt1480 strop1573 gimbals1577 gimmals1598 gimmera1603 strap1620 bridle1667 key band1735 screw-joint1810 locking plate1812 safety pin1822 king bolt1839 square coupling1845 holding-down bolt1846 ball joint1849 pinholder1854 knuckle-joint1860 bayonet-joint1870 elbow1874 fox-key1874 split-pin1875 cotter-pin1881 elbow-joint1881 banjo-frame1888 holding-down pin1892 holding-down ring1899 feather1908 banjo union1922 1908 Westm. Gaz. 28 May 4/2 The gear-wheels are mounted on shafts, each having four ‘feathers’. IV. [Properly a distinct word: < feather v.] 16. Rowing. The action of feathering. See feather v. 11. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling boat by oars, paddle, or pole > [noun] > rowing > feathering oar feather1865 1865 Pall Mall Gaz. 16 May 10 Oxford and Cambridge styles used to be palpably different to the eye by the height of the feather. 1884 St. James's Gaz. 28 Mar. 6/2 The feather was cleaner than that of Cambridge. 1885 Manch. Guard. 28 Mar. 6/6 The feather is exquisitely even, and this is the best point in their rowing. CompoundsGeneral attributive. C1. General combinations: a. Simple attributive. feather boa n. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > neck-wear > [noun] > scarf or wrap > other orhni1678 cravat1828 tie1860 feather boa1895 1895 Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price List 15 Sept. 1041 Black and Coloured Feather Boas. 1902 Queen 15 Feb. Advt. 2nd sheet Lace Berthes and Feather Boas. feather-bolster n. ΚΠ 1533 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices (modernized text) III. 573/4 Feather bolster 5/-. feather-brush n. ΚΠ 1856 W. Collins Yellow Mask iii. v, in After Dark 355 He was dusting his favourite busts..with a feather-brush when she came in. feather club n. ΚΠ 1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. x. 101 A Feather Club is an institution for supplying our younger womankind with..ostrich plumes for their hats. feather-embroidery n. ΚΠ 1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. ii. viii. 355 Beautiful mantles of the plumaje, or feather embroidery. feather-fan n. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > gas > air > fresh air > [noun] > supplying fresh air or ventilation > fan > hand-held or portable > other types of punkah1663 colmar1727 peacock fan1853 feather-fan1864 blow-george1873 uchiwa1877 1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in Enoch Arden, etc. 66 Cooling her false cheek with a featherfan. feather-flower n. ΚΠ 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Feather-flowers, artificial flowers made of feathers..used by ladies for head ornaments and for fancy plumes. feather-guise n. ΚΠ 1889 R. B. Anderson tr. V. Rydberg Teutonic Mythol. 60 In the Norse mythology several goddesses..have..feather-guises. feather-merchant n. ΚΠ 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Feather-merchant, an importer or wholesale dealer in feathers. feather-pattern n. ΚΠ 1883 W. G. Collingwood Philos. Ornament iv. 85 Barbaric annulets, zigzags, feather-patterns, are found upon early vases. feather-plume n. ΚΠ 1885 A. M. Clerke Pop. Hist. Astron. 83 Feather-plumes or aigrettes. feather-tract n. ΚΠ 1878 F. J. Bell tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 419 The arrangement also of these first rudiments of the feathers in definite areas (feather-tracts, pterylia). b. Objective. (a) feather-beater n. ΚΠ 1855 H. Clarke New Dict. Eng. Lang. Feather-beater, feather cleanser. feather-cleanser n. ΚΠ 1855 H. Clarke New Dict. Eng. Lang. Feather-beater, feather cleanser. feather-dresser n. ΚΠ 1647 L. Haward Charges Crown Revenue 26 Feather-dresser: Fee—13. 6. 8. 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Feather-dresser. feather-dryer n. ΚΠ 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Feather-drier. feather-finisher n. ΚΠ 1886 W. Besant Children of Gibeon II. ii. vi. 46 Sign-writers, feather-finishers and the like. feather-seller n. ΚΠ 1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Featherseller, one who sells feathers for beds. (b) feather-bearing adj. ΚΠ c1050 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 465 Penniger, feþerberend. 1881 St. G. Mivart Cat 377 The feather-bearing side of the hand. c. Instrumental. feather-cinctured adj. ΚΠ 1757 T. Gray Ode I ii. ii, in Odes 8 Their feather-cinctured Chiefs, and dusky Loves. 1829 Gen. P. Thompson in Westm. Rev. 11 229 Some feather-cinctured sage. feather-clouded adj. ΚΠ 1606 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. (new ed.) ii. iii. 136 His feather-clouded Crest. feather-tasselled adj. ΚΠ 1883 Good Words 24 113 Gorgeous articles of native dress feather-tasseled, shell-fringed, coral-beaded. d. Parasynthetic and similative. (a) feather-legged adj. ΚΠ 1872–4 L. Wright Poultry xi. 129 The chickens were feather-legged. feather-light adj. ΚΠ c1837 T. Hood Ode to My Son i With spirits feather-light. feather-like adj. ΚΠ 1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. I. 680 Little feather-like shoots rising single from the base of the leaves. 1807 T. Thomson Syst. Chem. (ed. 3) II. 270 Long, slender, flat, feather-like crystals. feather-nerved adj. ΚΠ 1840 J. Paxton Pocket Bot. Dict. Feather-nerved, the nerves disposed like the feathers of a pen. feather-soft adj. ΚΠ 1923 E. Sitwell Bucolic Comedies 38 The goose-girl smoothed down her feather-soft Breast. feather-tailed adj. ΚΠ 1883 F. M. Crawford Mr. Isaacs ii Small head, small feet, and feather-tailed. feather-thick adj. ΚΠ 1884 R. Browning Ferishtah's Fancies (1885) 122 Snow, feather-thick, is falling while I feast. feather-veined adj. ΚΠ 1861 R. Bentley Man. Bot. i. iii. 152 Feather-veined..In these the midrib gives off lateral veins which proceed at once to the margins, and are connected by numerous branching veinlets. 1876 J. H. Balfour in Encycl. Brit. IV. 110 Veins going directly to the margin and forming feather-veined leaves (Oak and Chestnut). feather-white adj. ΚΠ 1883 W. C. Russell Sailors' Lang. Feather-white sea, said of the sea when covered with foam. feather-witted adj. ΚΠ 1930 W. de la Mare On the Edge 295 That black-eyed, painted-up, feather-witted little Italian Countess. (b) feather-wise adj. ΚΠ 1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. (1609) x. xxix. 373 b Opposing their targuets before them, raunged and joined one over another featherwise. C2. a. Special combinations. Also feather-bed n., feather-edge n., feather-footed adj., etc. feather-alum n. [compare German Federalaun (mid 16th cent.)] ferroso-aluminic sulphate or halotrichite.The name feather alum has been applied also to magnesia alum and alunogen. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > sulphates > [noun] > alum > feather alum alum plumec1425 plume alum1600 feather-alum1693 plumose alum1732 alunogen1834 1693 T. Urquhart & P. A. Motteux tr. F. Rabelais 3rd Bk. Wks. lii. 425 Do not here instance in competition with this Sacred Herb the Feather Allum. 1863–72 H. Watts Dict. Chem. II. 617 Feather-alum, a name applied to native hydrated sulphate of aluminum..and to native iron-alum or halotrichite..both of which occur in delicate fibrous crystals or masses. feather ball n. a golf-ball stuffed with feathers (cf. feathery adj. 4). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > golf > equipment > [noun] > ball > types of floater1717 gutta1857 feathery1881 gutty1881 putty1881 feather ball1893 repaint1917 1893 H. G. Hutchinson Golfing 4 All this went on before the days of gutta-percha. Men played with ‘feather balls’—that is, balls of leather stuffed..tightly with feathers. feather-bird n. dialect the Whitethroat ( Sylvia cinerea). ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Sylviidae (warbler) > [noun] > genus Sylvia > sylvia communis (whitethroat) whey-beard1614 glut1661 muff1661 whitethroat1673 nettle-monger1712 whitethroat warbler1817 whey-bird1825 muggy1829 nettle-tom1830 muffit1837 mufty1837 nettle creeper1845 feather-bed1854 jackstraw1879 feather-bird1885 mealy-mouth1885 miller1885 muffya1886 1885 C. Swainson Provinc. Names Brit. Birds 23 Feather bird. feather-boarding n. a covering of boards which thin off towards the lower edge, and overlap like a bird's feathers. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > surfacing or cladding > [noun] > cladding with boards or panels > work consisting of clapboarding1767 feather-boarding1846 1846 J. C. Loudon in J. E. Worcester Universal Dict. Eng. Lang. Feather-boarding. Categories » feather-bog n. a quagmire, dialect. (Halliwell 1847). feather-cling n. Scottish a disease among cattle. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle > [noun] > other disorders of cattle murrainc1450 gall1577 gargyse1577 sprenges1577 wisp1577 closh1587 milting1587 moltlong1587 hammer1600 mallet1600 scurvy1604 wither1648 speed1704 nostril dropping1708 bladdera1722 heartsick1725 throstling1726 striking1776 feather-cling1799 hollow-horn1805 weed1811 blood striking1815 the slows1822 toad-bit1825 coast-fever1840 horn-distemper1843 rat's tail1847 whethering1847 milk fever1860 milt-sickness1867 pearl tumour1872 actinomycosis1877 pearl disease1877 rat-tail1880 lumpy jaw1891 niatism1895 cripple1897 rumenitis1897 Rhodesian fever1903 reticulitis1905 barbone1907 contagious abortion1910 trichomoniasis1915 shipping fever1932 New Forest disease1954 bovine spongiform encephalopathy1987 BSE1987 mad cow disease1988 East Coast fever2009 1799 Prize Ess. Highl. Soc. Scot. II. 218 Feather Cling..is occasioned by want of water in very dry summers or in the hard frosts of winters. feather-cloth n. (see quot.). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric made from specific material > made from mixed fibres > [noun] > cloth and feathers feather-cloth1882 1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 203/1 Feather Cloth. A mixture of cloth and feathers woven together. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [noun] > dandy popa1500 miniona1513 prick-me-daintya1529 puppy?1544 velvet-coat1549 skipjack1554 coxcomb1567 musk cat?1567 physbuttocke1570 Adonis?1571 Adon1590 foretop1597 musk-cod1600 pretty fellow1600 sparkc1600 spangle-baby1602 flash1605 barber-monger1608 cocoloch1610 dapperling1611 fantastica1613 feather-cock1612 trig1612 jack-a-dandy?1617 gimcrack1623 satinist1639 powder puffa1653 fop1676 prig1676 foplinga1681 cockcomb1684 beau garçona1687 shape1688 duke1699 nab1699 smirk1699 beau1700 petty master1706 moppet1707 Tom Astoner1707 dapper1709 petit maître1711 buck1725 toupee1727 toupet1728 toupet-man1748 jemmy1753 jessamy1753 macaroni1764 majoc1770 monkeyrony1773 dandyc1780 elegant1780 muscadin1794 incroyable1797 beauty man1800 bang-up1811 natty1818 ruffian1818 exquisite1819 heavy swell1819 marvellous1819 bit of stuff1828 merveilleux1830 fat1832 squirt1844 dandyling1846 ineffable1859 guinea pig1860 Dundreary swell1862 masher1872 dude1877 mash1879 dudette1883 dand1886 heavy gunner1890 posh1890 nut1904 smoothie1929 fancy-pants1930 saga boy1941 fancy Dan1943 the mind > emotion > pride > self-esteem > conceit > [noun] > conceited person coxcomb1567 snipper-snappera1593 conceited1596 feather-cock1612 turkey-cocka1616 cockcomb1684 egotist1715 fop1755 fat1832 swell-head1845 swelled head1862 big-head1863 swollen head1898 Jack Strop1910 trombenik1922 the mind > emotion > pride > self-esteem > vanity > [noun] > vain person puppy?1544 self-lover1555 coxcomb1567 feather-cock1612 self-admirer1633 self-idolater1643 cockcomb1684 peachick1693 worship-willer1721 narcissus1767 narcissist1917 1612 Mr. King tr. Benvenuto Passenger i. i. 19 Muskats, syrenists, feathercockes. feather-curler n. one employed in curling feathers. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > workers with other animal materials > [noun] > with feathers plumassier1589 feather-monger1599 pluminarya1631 plumist1812 feather-curler?1881 ?1881 Census Eng. & Wales: Instr. Clerks classifying Occupations & Ages (?1885) 79 Feather..Curler. 1895 Daily News 4 Apr. 5/6 Earning fifteenpence a day as a feather-curler. ΘΚΠ society > communication > writing > writer > [noun] > professional writer writereOE bookerOE markerOE scrivein?1208 scrivener1218 scrieverc1425 pen-clerk?c1430 scribe1435 scrivan1511 penman1552 scrivano1581 feather-driver1593 scriptora1600 Khoja1625 quill man1648 conicopoly1680 quill-driver1700 escrivain1744 sirkar1828 penworker1876 society > leisure > the arts > literature > writer or author > [noun] > inferior writer scribblera1556 paper-blurrera1586 by-writer1587 feather-driver1593 squitter-book1594 paper-stainer1596 blur-paper1603 spoil-paper1610 penster1611 inkhorn matea1616 squitter-wit1615 ink-dabbler1616 squitter-pulpa1640 quill-driver1700 scribble-scrabble1707 authorling1752 writerling1802 inkhorn varlet1820 toe-writer1845 pen-driver1854 anonymuncule1859 ink-jerker1865 pen-pusher1875 pseudonymuncle1875 ink-spiller1881 ink-slinger1887 blotter- 1593 T. Nashe Strange Newes K 1 b The onely feather-driuer of phrases and putter of a good word to it when thou hast once got it. 1713 W. Derham Physico-theol. vi. vii. 152 A Feather-Driver, who had these Bladders filled with the fine Dust or Down of Feathers. feather-duster n. (a) a brush made of feathers, used for dusting; (b) (U.S. slang) an American Indian (offensive). ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > dusting > [noun] > implements dusting-cloth1667 dust-cloth1727 dustera1748 dustpan1785 feather-duster1858 selvyt1891 plumet1902 1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Feather-duster. 1907 C. E. Mulford Bar-20 ix. 103 I had a little argument with some feather dusters. feather-eyed adj. ? having a ‘feather’ ( 12a) in one's eye. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > deformity > deformities of specific parts > [adjective] > of eye wall-eyeda1400 wolden-eiȝeda1400 ringle-eyed1586 feather-eyeda1640 silver-eyed1695 cyclopian1839 aphakic1889 heterochromic1911 a1640 J. Day & H. Chettle Blind-beggar (1659) sig. D2v So feather-ey'd ye cannot let us passe in the Kings high way? feather-foot n. a foot as light as a feather, in quot. figurative. ΘΚΠ the world > matter > properties of materials > lightness > [noun] > that which is light > specific feather-foot1821 1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 209 The breeze with feather-feet, Crimping o'er the waters sweet. ΚΠ a1626 L. Andrewes Serm. (1856) I. 31 Glory, not like ours here feather-glory. feather-heeled adj. = feather-footed adj. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [adjective] > having specific manner of walking > light-footed lightOE light-footeda1425 lightfoot1440 feather-footed1565 tripping1567 nimble-footed1592 soft-foot1598 light-heeled1600 soft-footed1603 soft-footed1607 nimble-heeled1656 quick-foot1658 feather-heeleda1674 tickle-heeled1740 nimble-stepping1832 tripsome1846 twinkle-toed1960 society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > [adjective] > unchaste or sexually compliant (of women) strumpeta1382 jadish1573 comingc1576 short heeled1591 loose in the hilts1598 loose-legged1598 loose-tailed1598 light-tailed1600 overscutched1600 stuprous1603 light-skirted1607 brothelly1608 light-heeled1611 wagtailed1648 loose-hilteda1652 feather-heeleda1674 loose-gowneda1717 frank1744 shake-tail1782 (a woman) of a certain description1803 hetaeric1868 round-heeled1926 floozy?1930 trampy1944 slack1951 slaggy1973 the mind > mental capacity > understanding > intelligence, cleverness > wit, wittiness > [adjective] > bright, sparkling bright1619 sparkling1701 scintillating1793 scintillous1826 feather-heeled1840 pétillant1902 a1674 in C. Mackay Coll. Songs London Prentices (1841) 66 The feather-heel'd wenches that live by their owne. 1840 T. Hood Up Rhine 94 The wit of the Germans is not feather-heeled. feather-joint n. (see quot.). ΚΠ 1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Feather-joint, a mode of joining the edges of boards by a fin or feather let into opposite mortises on the edges of the boards. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > lock > spring-lock spring lock1366 feather-lock1478 1478 Act. Audit. 82 That Schir Jhone..pay for..a fethir lok xviii d. feather-mail n. the dress of feathers resembling a coat of mail worn by the Indians of Mexico, prior to the Spanish conquest. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > made from specific material > other > article of linsey-woolsey1483 kelter1562 buffin1572 marry-muff1604 tiffany1606 camlet1623 grogram1633 pepper-and-salt1774 toilenette1790 zephyrine1820 feather-mail1843 alpaca1853 khaki1857 ramie1899 marocain1922 sharkskin1957 Ultrasuede1973 1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. iii. ii. 427 The like colors on the feather-mail of the Indians, showed that they were the warriors of Xicotencatl. feather-monger n. one who deals in feathers, also transferred of a bird. ΘΚΠ society > trade and finance > trader > traders or dealers in specific articles > [noun] > in feathers plumer1282 feather-maker1580 feather-monger1599 feathermana1635 society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > manual or industrial worker > workers with specific materials > workers with other animal materials > [noun] > with feathers plumassier1589 feather-monger1599 pluminarya1631 plumist1812 feather-curler?1881 the world > animals > birds > [noun] > bird fowlOE bird?c1225 wing1601 feathera1616 feather-monger1767 feathered friend1933 1599 T. Nashe Lenten Stuffe 51 Some fowler with his nets (as this host of fethermungers were getting vp to ride double) inuolued or intangled them. 1767 ‘Coriat Junior’ Another Traveller! II. 147 The open~hearted feather-monger. feather-mosaic n. patterns worked in feathers. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > ornamental art and craft > [noun] > work in specific medium bonework1557 shell-work1611 rockwork1615 feather-work1665 quillwork1688 boss-work1697 ice work1729 wafer-work1789 filigree paper1800 feather-mosaic1843 cut paper1847 plumagery1854 leather-work1856 graffito1863 cuerda seca1911 papercraft1917 barbola1927 rosemaling1933 cuenca1939 penwork1969 1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. i. vi. 180 The arts of working in metals, jewelry, and feather-mosaic. feather-ore n. Mineralogy (see quot. 1863-72). ΚΠ 1776 J. Seiferth tr. C. E. Gellert Metallurgic Chym. 41 Feather ore consists of the smallest capillary-like feathers. 1863–72 H. Watts Dict. Chem. II. 617 Feather ore, this name is applied to the capillary form of native sulphantimonite of lead. feather-painting n. the art of using feathers of various colours in place of pigments. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > other visual arts > [noun] > feather-painting feather-painting1843 1843 W. H. Prescott Hist. Conquest Mexico I. i. v. 145 Count Carli is in raptures with a specimen of feather-painting which he saw in Strasbourg. feather-pated adj. = feather-headed adj. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > giddiness, empty-headedness > [adjective] idlec825 giddyc1000 volage?a1366 apec1370 foolisha1382 vain1390 idleful1483 volageous1487 glaikit1488 cock-brained1530 apish1532 empty1550 sillyc1555 frivolous?1563 tickle-headed1583 light-braineda1593 frothy1593 owlish1596 bird-witted1605 empty-headed1614 idle-headed1614 empty-pateda1628 marmosetical1630 grollish1637 feather-headed1647 nonsense1647 whirl-crowned1648 feather-brained1649 swimmering1650 soft-pated1651 weather-headeda1652 shuttlecock1660 drum-headed1664 chicken-brained1678 halokit1724 desipient1727 shatter-pated1727 scattered-brained1747 light-thoughted1777 scatter-brained1804 shandy-pated1806 hellicat1815 feather-pated1819 inane1819 weather-brained1826 bubble-headed1827 tomfoolish1838 bird-brained1892 tottle1894 fluffy1898 scatty1911 wandery1912 scattery1924 twitterpated1943 1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe III. iv. 94 The feather-pated giddy fools. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > parts of headgear > [noun] > other bouta1300 locketa1350 flipe1530 tarf1545 corneta1547 round tire1560 scuffe1599 lappet1601 mirror1601 flandana1685 rose1725 rounding1732 feather-peeper1757 screed1788 valance1791 busby-bag1807 cointise1834 wing1834 kredemnon1850 havelock1861 cache-peigne1873 pullover1875 stocking-foot1921 grummet1953 1757 M. Delany Autobiogr. & Corr. (1861) III. 467 Madame Godineau in a round card cap of black lace..it was a pity ‘feather-peepers’ were not added to the cap. feather-pie n. (see quot.). ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > sowing and planting equipment > [noun] > bird-scarer scarlec1440 scare1530 blencher1531 shail1531 fray-boggard1535 crow-keeper1562 malkinc1565 clacket1594 scarecrow1606 clap-mill1613 field keeper1620 shaw-fowl1621 bean-shatter1639 clapper1660 dudman1670 clack1678 hobidy-booby?1710 worricow1711 cherry-clapper1763 flay-crake1788 potato-bogle1815 cherry-clack1824 feather-piea1825 flay-crow1824 gally-baggar1825 gally-crow1825 bogle1830 tatie-bogle1838 shewel1888 scare-string1889 the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing physical symptoms > [noun] > scarecrow or device for scaring birds buga1425 scarlec1440 scare1530 blencher1531 shail1531 fray-boggard1535 malkinc1565 clacket1594 bogle-bo1603 scarecrow1606 blinks1611 clap-mill1613 shaw-fowl1621 dudman1670 hobidy-booby?1710 cherry-clapper1763 flay-crake1788 potato-bogle1815 cherry-clack1824 feather-piea1825 flay-crow1824 gally-baggar1825 gally-crow1825 bogle1830 deadman1839 hodmandod1881 scarer1930 a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Feather-pie, a hole in the ground, filled with feathers fixed on strings, and kept in motion by the wind. An excellent device to scare birds. feather-poke n. (a) a bag of feathers, (b) applied to the Willow Warbler ( Phylloscopus trochilus), the Long-tailed Titmouse ( Acredula rosea), and the Wren ( Motacilla troglodytes), perhaps from the appearance of their nests. ΘΚΠ society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > bed > bedding > [noun] > pillow or bolster > filled with feathers feather-poke1558 the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > arboreal families > [noun] > family Aegithalidae > genus Aegithalos (long-tailed titmouse) poke bag1663 pudding-poke1684 bottle tom1802 bottle tit1817 bumbarrel1817 feather-poke1831 mufflin1837 jack-in-a-bottle1838 pettichaps1851 poke pudding1851 Long Tom1853 muffler1868 hedge-jug1881 ragamuffin1885 the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > non-arboreal (larks, etc.) > [noun] > family Troglodytidae > genus Troglodytes > species troglodytes (wren) wrenc725 little kingc1450 Our Lady's hena1529 jenny wren1648 regulus1678 tope1813 staga1825 kitty1825 feather-poke1831 robin1837 robin redbreasta1873 jenny1881 St. Kilda wren1884 the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Sylviidae (warbler) > [noun] > genus Phylloscopus > species trochilus (willow-warbler) willow-wren1766 wood-wren1794 feather-poke1831 ground-wren1837 willow-warbler1846 feather-bed1854 mealy-mouth1885 sally picker1885 ox-eye1888 1558 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 170 Two federpoks, two payre of harne sheits, two cou'letts [i.e. couerletts]. 1831 W. Howitt Bk. Seasons 91 The little willow-wren builds an oval nest after the fashion of the common wren and the feather-poke. 1839 A. Bywater Sheffield Dial. 171 It's just loik thrustin yer hand up tot rist into a feather poke nest. 1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. When it snows we say ‘t'owd woman is shackin' her feather-poke’. 1885 C. Swainson Provinc. Names Brit. Birds 26 Willow warbler..Feather poke. 1885 C. Swainson Provinc. Names Brit. Birds 32 British Long-tailed Titmouse..Feather poke. 1888 S. O. Addy Gloss. Words Sheffield Feather poke, the wren. feather-process n. (see quot.). ΚΠ 1878 F. J. Bell tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 419 The first sign of the feather is the growth of the knobs into papilliform processes (feather-processes). feather-pulp n. the pulp or matrix from which the feather is formed. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > feather > [noun] > part of pen1381 quill?a1425 dowlc1535 rib1545 web1575 pilec1600 twill1664 beard1688 pinion1691 vane1713 shaft1748 beardlet1804 medulla1826 barb1835 barbule1835 stem1845 feather-pulp1859 aftershaft1867 barbicel1869 filament1870 vexillum1871 scape1872 rachis1874 harl1877 calamus1878 radius1882 ramus1882 scapus1882 cilia1884 1859 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 480/1 On the surface of the feather-pulp a series of ridges are developed. feather-shot copper n. (see quot.). ΚΠ 1869 Eng. Mech. 31 Dec. 388/1 Bean..and feather shot copper [is made] by pouring [melted copper] into cold water. feather-spray n. (see quot.). ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > types of waves > [noun] > other way1578 wake1753 clean, clear breach1867 feather-spray1867 south-western1872 bow-wave1877 gravity wave1877 blind roller1888 gravitational wave1899 Kelvin wave1922 rooster tail1934 slide1935 bow shock1938 beacher1956 1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Feather spray, such as is observed at the cutwater of fast steamers, forming a pair of wing feathers. feather-spring n. the spring in a gun-lock which causes the sear, which holds the hammer at full or half cock, to catch in the notch of the tumbler. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > firearm > parts and fittings of firearms > [noun] > lock > other parts of lock scutcheon1631 bridle1771 bridle pin1799 feather-spring1807 comb1867 detant1884 1807 Sporting Mag. 29 207 Mr. Meredith's pistol had no feather spring. 1833 Regulations Instr. Cavalry i. iii. 95 The Recruit..is to take it..near the lock, his little finger touching the feather-spring. ΘΚΠ society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > sharp weapon > halberd > [noun] weyc1275 poleaxe1294 billc1300 glaivec1450 langue de boeuf1450 halberd1497 budgea1522 brown-bill1589 ox-tongue1611 partisan1611 Lochaber axe1618 feather-staff1622 halberd staff1687 battle-axe1709 ko1923 1622 F. Markham Five Decades Epist. of Warre iv. iv. 135 The only weapons for a Captaine, are a faire Feather-staffe in the time of Peace. feather-star n. a starfish ( Comatula rosacea). ΘΚΠ the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > phylum Echinodermata > [noun] > division Pelmatozoa > class Crinoidea > family Comasteridae > genus Comatula > member of feather-star1862 1862 D. T. Ansted & R. G. Latham Channel Islands ii. ix. 237 The feather-star (comatula rosacea), represents the crinoids. feather-stick n. a stick covered with feathers. ΘΚΠ society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > other tools and equipment pollhache1324 poleaxe1356 muckrake1366 pestlea1382 botea1450 staff1459 press-board1558 reel1593 water crane1658 lathekin1659 tower1662 dressing hook1683 liner1683 hovel1686 flax-brake1688 nipper1688 horse1728 tap1797 feather-stick1824 bow1839 safety belt1840 economizer1841 throttle damper1849 cleat1854 leg brace1857 bark-peeler1862 pugging screw1862 nail driver1863 spool1864 turntable1865 ovate1872 tension bar1879 icebreaker1881 spreader1881 toucher1881 window pole1888 mushroom head1890 rat1894 slackline1896 auger1897 latch hook1900 thimble1901 horse1904 pipe jack1909 mulcher1910 hand plate1911 splashguard1917 cheese-cutter1927 airbrasive1945 impactor1945 fogger1946 1824 W. J. Burchell Trav. Interior S. Afr. II. 579 The feather-stick often renders the natives important service. feather-top n. nickname of a parrot (also attributive = feather-topped adj.). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [adjective] > wig full dress1761 feather-top1775 feather-toppeda1777 the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the hair > practice of wearing artificial hair > [noun] > artificial hair > curled or frizzed frowze1563 frizzle1618 frizz1668 feather-top1775 fuzz-wig1848 the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Psittaciformes (parrots, etc.) > [noun] > parrot popinjaya1387 psittac?a1425 parrota1529 Poll1600 coxcomb bird1734 poll-parrot1768 Polly1826 anthropoglot1828 feather-top1891 psittacine1949 1775 D. Garrick Bon Ton Prol. The Tyburn scratch, thick club, and Temple tye, The parson's feather-top, frizz'd broad and high! 1786 A. M. Bennett Juvenile Indiscretions I. 185 His nice feather-top-wig. 1891 Sc. Leader 24 Oct. 4 The antique feather-top screamed the same phrases twelve months ago at Mr. Colston. feather-topped adj. (of a wig) frizzed at the top (see 11). ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [adjective] > wig full dress1761 feather-top1775 feather-toppeda1777 a1777 S. Foote Cozeners (1778) i. 25 His wig..white as a curd, feather-topped, and the curls as close as a cauliflower. 1788 V. Knox Winter Evenings III. vii. i. 4 Divest them of their feather-topt wigs, their gowns and cassocks. feather-tuft n. an edible mushroom, Clavaria cristata (Hay Brit. Fungi (1887) 234). ΚΠ 1867 Lady Llanover Good Cookery 53 As soon as the feathers were dry, they were taken away by the featherwife. ΚΠ 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Fetherworcker, plumarius. b. In various plant-names. feather-bow n. = feverfew n. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Compositae (composite plants) > [noun] > feverfew feverfewOE adrelwurta1300 featherfew?a1300 whitewort?c1400 matricary1523 St. Peter's wort1526 parthenium1548 matricaria1664 wild wormwood1696 mugworta1726 whitehead1864 golden feather1867 feather-bow1880 flirt-wort1882 1880 T. Q. Couch E. Cornwall Words in M. A. Courtney & T. Q. Couch Gloss. Words Cornwall 84 Feather bow, fever few, Matricaria parthenium. feather-columbine n. (see quot. 1878-86). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Ranunculaceae (crowfoot and allies) > [noun] > thalictrum or meadow rue feathered columbine1629 meadow rue1648 meadow rhubarb1656 Thalictrum1664 rue anemone1817 muskrat weed1830 fen-rue1863 feather-columbine1878 1878–86 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Feather..Columbine.. A frequent book-name for Thalictrum aquilegifolium L. an old-fashioned garden plant. feather-fern n. (see quot. 1882). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > shrubs > spiraea shrubs > [noun] spiraea1666 spirey1714 hardhack1814 meadowsweet1814 bridal wreath1856 steeple-bush1859 feather-fern1882 pearl bush1882 1882 H. Friend Gloss. Devon Plant Names Feather Fern, Spiræa Japonica L. feather-foil n. the water violet ( Hottonia palustris). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > aquatic, marsh, and sea-shore plants > [noun] > feather-foil water gillyflower1578 water violet1578 water yarrow1597 water milfoil1760 feather-foil1776 water feather1818 1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. I. 115 Featherfoil. 1861 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. IV. 219 Common Water-Violet, or Featherfoil. 1875 Anderida I. viii. 155 His paddle..hung in the stems of water-crowfoot and featherfoil. feather-grass n. a perennial feather grass ( Stipa pennata). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > other grasses feather-top grass1597 hooded matweed1597 millet grass1597 spring grass1643 moor grass1749 melic1762 finger grass1767 feather-grass1776 aegilops1777 oat-grass1802 prairie grass1812 oat-grass1814 tansy mustard1856 purple moor grass1859 whorl-grass1861 Molinia1866 onion grass1868 káns1874 Turk's-head grass1882 Pangola finger-grass1947 tor grass1954 bush-grass- 1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. I. 44 Feathergrass. 1861 A. Pratt Flowering Plants & Ferns Great Brit. VI. 66 Order Gramineæ..(Common Feather-grass). feather-moss n. the name of a genus (Hypnum) of British mosses. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > moss > [noun] > other mosses golden maidenhair1578 polytrichon1578 bryon1597 maidenhair moss1597 mountain coralline1598 chalice-moss1610 purple bottle1650 water moss1663 fern-moss1698 hypnum1753 Mnium1754 rock tripe1763 feather-moss1776 scaly water-moss1796 screw moss1804 hog-bed1816 fringe-moss1818 caribou moss1831 apple moss1841 bristle-moss1844 scale-moss1846 anophyte1850 robin's rye1854 wall moss1855 fork-moss1860 thread-moss1864 lattice moss1868 robin-wheat1886 1776 W. Withering Bot. Arrangem. Veg. Great Brit. II. 680 Feathermoss..Hypnum. 1854 Stark Brit. Mosses 228 Hypnum Trichomanoides..(Blunt Fern-like Feather Moss). 1854 Stark Brit. Mosses 229 Hypnum Complanatum..(Flat Feather Moss). feather palm n. ΚΠ 1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants Ptychosperma, Australian Feather~palm. feather-top wild campion n. (see quot. 1597). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Caryophyllaceae (chickweeds and allies) > [noun] > campion and ragged robin cow-rattle14.. campion1576 behen1578 crowsoap1578 white campion1578 catchfly1597 feather-top wild campion1597 frothy poppy1597 lime-wort1597 nonsuch1597 sea campion1597 spattling poppy (also campion)1597 Greek rose1601 lychnis1601 knap-bottle1640 moss pink1641 Lobel's catchfly1664 red robin1678 moss campion1690 red campion1728 round robin1741 Silene1751 Nottingham catchfly1762 silenal1836 Robin Hood1844 thunder-flower1853 gunpowder weed1860 sea-catchfly1864 robin redbreast1880 poppy1886 thunderbolt1886 rattleweed1893 cancer1896 bladder-campion- 1597 J. Gerard Herball ii. 385 Lychnis Plumaria, Fethertop wilde Campion. feather-top grass n. (see quot. 1878-86). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > a grass or grasses > [noun] > other grasses feather-top grass1597 hooded matweed1597 millet grass1597 spring grass1643 moor grass1749 melic1762 finger grass1767 feather-grass1776 aegilops1777 oat-grass1802 prairie grass1812 oat-grass1814 tansy mustard1856 purple moor grass1859 whorl-grass1861 Molinia1866 onion grass1868 káns1874 Turk's-head grass1882 Pangola finger-grass1947 tor grass1954 bush-grass- 1597 J. Gerard Herball i. 8 In English a Bent, or Feather-top grasse. 1678 A. Littleton Linguæ Latinæ Liber Dictionarius at Princes Feather-top grass. Gramen tomentosum arundinaceum. 1878–86 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Feathertop Grass, Calamagrostis Epigejos. feather-wood n. (see quot. 1884). ΘΚΠ the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular timber trees or shrubs > non-British timber trees > [noun] > Australasian tallow-tree1704 rata1773 rosewood1779 red mahogany1798 ironbark1799 wild orange1802 red gum1803 rewarewa1817 red cedar1818 black-butted gum1820 Huon pine1820 miro1820 oak1821 horoeka1831 hinau1832 maire1832 totara1832 blackbutt1833 marri1833 raspberry jam tree1833 kohekohe1835 puriri1835 tawa1839 hickory1840 whau1840 pukatea1841 titoki1842 butterbush1843 iron gum1844 York gum1846 mangeao1848 myall1848 ironheart1859 lilly-pilly1860 belah1862 flindosa1862 jarrah1866 silky oak1866 teak of New South Wales1866 Tolosa-wood1866 turmeric-tree1866 walking-stick palm1869 tooart1870 queenwood1873 tarairi1873 boree1878 yate1880 axe-breaker1884 bangalay1884 coachwood1884 cudgerie1884 feather-wood1884 forest mahogany1884 maiden's blush1884 swamp mahogany1884 tallow-wood1884 teak of New Zealand1884 wandoo1884 heartwood1885 ivorywood1887 Jimmy Low1887 Burdekin plum1889 corkwood1889 pigeon-berry ash1889 red beech1889 silver beech1889 turnip-wood1891 black bean1895 red bean1895 pinkwood1898 poplar1898 rose mahogany1898 quandong1908 lancewood1910 New Zealand honeysuckle1910 Queensland walnut1919 mahogany gum1944 Australian mahogany1948 1884 A. Nilson Timber Trees New S. Wales Index 135 Featherwood, Polyosma Cunninghamii. Saxifrageæ. 1927 Blackwood's Mag. Oct. 464/1 The delicate green tracery of the graceful featherwoods and celery-top pines. 1947 R. H. Anderson Trees New S. Wales (ed. 2) 218 In addition to the Opossum Wood and the Featherwood there are four related species belonging to the same family (Escalloniaceae). Draft additions March 2006 feather-cut n. and adj. (a) n. a hairstyle in which the hair is cut into thin, tapered, feather-like layers; (b) adj. having or designating hair in this style. ΚΠ 1924 Port Arthur (Texas) News 4 Nov. 13/3 The fashionable boyish cut is the equivalent to the feather cut in the masculine world. 1944 F. Crane Amethyst Spectacles iv. 36 Bee's black hair curled naturally and she wore it in a feathercut. 1981 Fortune (Nexis) 1 June 52 The phone gets tucked between her feather-cut blond head and raincoat-clad shoulder. 1996 C. J. Stone Fierce Dancing vii. 101 They had long feather-cut hair and wore cap-sleeved T-shirts. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022). featherv. I. To cover or furnish with feathers. ΘΚΠ the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > cause to move swiftly [verb (transitive)] featherc888 speeda1387 whirry1582 winga1596 rattle?1611 race1734 to send along1867 zip1891 roller-coast1962 c888 Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. xxxvi. §1 Ic sceal ærest þin mod gefiðerian. 1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Rolls) VII. 223 I not by what craft he feþered his feet and his hondes, for he wolde flee in Dedalus his wise. 1534 R. Whittington tr. Cicero Thre Bks. Tullyes Offyces iii. sig. X.1 Oh stable truthe & faythfulnesse fethered to flye to heuen. ?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads ii. 139 Horse slaughter'd horse, Need feather'd flight. 1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck iii. sig. E3v The Cornish..flewe, Featherd by rage. a1647 R. Loveday Lett. (1662) 204 The Polonian Story..perhaps may feather some tedious hours. a1849 T. L. Beddoes Second Brother ii. ii, in Poems (1851) I. 39 Blessings of mine Feather your speed! 2. To fit (an arrow) with a feather. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > supply > provide or supply (something) [verb (transitive)] > provide or supply (a person or thing) with anything feather?c1225 serve?c1225 astore1297 purveya1325 purveyc1325 warnishc1330 supply1384 bego1393 garnish?a1400 stuff14.. instore1432 relievec1480 providec1485 appurvey1487 support?1507 furnishc1515 repair1518 supply1529 speed1531 help (a person) to (also with)1569 sort1598 suffice1600 enduea1616 starta1640 employ1690 find1713 to fix out1725 issue1737 service1969 society > armed hostility > military equipment > production and development of arms > produce or develop arms [verb (transitive)] > feather an arrow feather?c1225 wing1606 fletch1656 fledge1796 flight1869 ?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 51 Ase flaa þet is iuiðered. c1380 Sir Ferumbras (1879) l. 2728 Dartes y-feþered wiþ bras. c1400 Rom. Rose 942 Ten brode arrowes held he there..But they were..feathered aright. 1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 547/1 I feder a shafte, as a fletcher doth. a1577 G. Gascoigne Wks. (1587) 185 Be his flights yfethred from the goose Or peacocks quils. 1599 J. Hayward 1st Pt. Henrie IIII 60 The King having feathered these arrowes against his owne brest, passed foorth [etc.]. 1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love i. ii. 8 Cupids Arrow was well featherd. 1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull Still in Senses v. 19 An Arrow feather'd with his own Wing. 1821 Ld. Byron Sardanapalus iv. i. 110 Shaft-heads feather'd from the eagle's wing. 3. a. To clothe or provide with feathers; to furnish with plumage; to deck or adorn with, or as with, feathers; to form a feather-like covering or adornment for. ΘΚΠ the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > providing with clothing > provide with clothing [verb (transitive)] > in specific way > in specific material fur?1370 befur1470 feather1483 case1582 kersey1628 flannel1778 the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > cover [verb (transitive)] > as with feathers feather1483 fledgea1616 the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > types of ornamentation > ornament [verb (transitive)] > ornament with plumes or feathers plume1592 befeather1611 feather1618 fledge1725 1483 Cath. Angl. 124/2 To Fedyr, pennare, plumare. 1525 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Chron. iii. xlii. 54/2 These gentell byrdes had pyte on hym and fethered hym agayne. 1618 N. Field Amends for Ladies v. ii. sig. H A branch of willow feathering his hat. 1622 F. Bacon Hist. Raigne Henry VII 111 The King cared not to plume his Nobilitie..to feather himselfe. 1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 18 A wildering forest feathered o'er His ruined sides. 1833 H. Martineau Cinnamon & Pearls i. 19 With more than her usual fancy did she feather with cocoa-nut leaves the poles of bamboo. 1834 R. Southey Doctor I. 58 A craggy hill, feathered with birch, sheltered it from the north. 1864 J. H. Burton Scot Abroad I. iii. 140 He sought to feather his hat with..French plumage. 1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 134 The stalk..retains some of its primitive character by being feathered. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] > wound > wound with missile shootc893 shoot1297 feather1415 to shoot (a person, thing) through1535 daga1572 pistol1598 lace1622 to shoot‥through and througha1648 pink1661 pop1762 plump1785 wing1802 drill1808 rifle1821 leg1829 hole1847 shot1855 blunderbuss1870 riddle1874 pip1900 slot1987 society > armed hostility > military equipment > operation and use of weapons > action of propelling missile > use of bow and arrow > shoot (arrow) [verb (transitive)] > pierce feather1415 rove?c1550 1415 Pol. Poems (Rolls) III. 125 Thei felle to grownde, Here sydes federed. 1577 W. Harrison Descr. Eng. (1877) I. ii. xvi. 279 An other [arrow should haue beene] fethered in his bowels. 1589 R. Greene Menaphon sig. D2v A man of meane estate..being feathered with Cupides bolt. ΘΚΠ the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > types of waves > [verb (intransitive)] > be covered with white waves feather1749 1749 Acct. Voy. for Discov. North-west Passage II. 251 The Sea was feathered with a strong Tide. 4. reflexive and intransitive for reflexive. Of a bird: To get its feathers, to become fledged. ? Obsolete exc. dialect. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > young bird > [verb (reflexive)] > become fledged featherc1450 pen1486 c1450 Bk. Hawkyng in T. Wright & J. O. Halliwell Reliquiæ Antiquæ (1845) I. 298 Thou seist hym [your young hawk] hym begyn to feder. 1486 Bk. St. Albans A ij a When they bene vnclosed and begynneth to feder any thyng of lengthe. 1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry iv. f. 169 They that meane to fatte Pigions..doo seuer them when they be newely feathered. 1659 D. Pell Πελαγος 118 The Vulture..beholds her young to thrive and feather. 1790 A. Wilson Poems 190 A' safe an' weel about our nest, An' them quiet feath'rin' laid! 5. To cover with feathers. a. internally: To line with feathers, in to feather one's nest: to avail oneself of opportunities for laying up wealth, to enrich oneself. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > wealth > be rich [verb (intransitive)] > become rich gather?c1225 richa1375 purchasec1387 increasea1425 enrich1525 to feather one's nest1583 to make a, one's fortune1596 to make one's fortunea1616 fatten1638 accumulate1747 to fill one's pipe1821 to shake the pagoda-tree1825 pyramid1926 1583 P. Stubbes Second Pt. Anat. Abuses sig. F5 By this meanes..they feather their nests well inough. 1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus i. 7 Yet all this worke is neglected, that his owne neast may be well feathered. 1658 F. Osborne Mem. Reigns Elizabeth & James in Wks. (1673) 514 He might have feathered his Family better than he did. 1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom I. xvi. 94 His spouse..was disposed to feather her own nest, at the expence of him and his heirs. 1876 F. E. Trollope Charming Fellow III. xii. 149 Maxfield has feathered his nest very considerably. b. externally: To coat with feathers; more fully, to tar and feather (see tar v.1). ΘΚΠ society > authority > punishment > public or popular punishments > [verb (transitive)] > tar and feather emplume1611 tar1769 feathera1777 a1777 S. Foote Cozeners (1778) iii. ii. 88 You wanted to send me to be feathered abroad. 1829 W. H. Maxwell Stories Waterloo: F. Kennedy 205 The population were amusing themselves..in..feathering tithe proctors. ΘΚΠ the world > animals > birds > order Galliformes (fowls) > family Phasianidae (pheasants, etc.) > hen or cock > [verb (transitive)] > cover or tread (of cock) featherc1386 c1386 G. Chaucer Nun's Priest's Tale 357 He fetherid Pertelote twenty tyme, And trad as ofte. 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Cock & Fox in Fables 226 Ardent in Love..He feather'd her a hundred times a Day. ΘΚΠ the world > physical sensation > touch and feeling > touching > touching with the hand > touch or feel with the hand [verb (transitive)] > touch lightly thackc897 featherc1230 attouchc1480 palp1534 flatter1599 tat1607 touch1647 c1230 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Corpus Cambr.) (1962) 103 Þer ich feðeri on a word tene oðer tweolue. II. To present or give (to anything) the appearance of feathers. 8. a. intransitive. To move, wave or float like feathers; to grow, extend in a feathery form. ΘΚΠ the world > space > extension in space > extend in space [verb (intransitive)] > like a fringe or feathers feather1770 fringe1857 the world > space > shape > other specific shapes > assume other specific shapes [verb (intransitive)] > of feather(s) feather1770 the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > flutter or flicker flatterc1425 flitter1483 flickera1500 flutter1561 play1590 swattera1666 whiff1686 feather1770 whiffle1817 1770 T. Whately Observ. Mod. Gardening 197 A noble wood crowns the top, and feathers down to the bottom of a large, oval, swelling hill. 1797 G. Colman My Night-gown 12 The snow came feathering down. 1820 W. Scott Monastery I. ii. 95 Little patches of wood and copse..feathering naturally up the beds of empty torrents. 1857 S. Osborn Quedah xxiv. 356 The graceful palm, the plantain, and pandanus..feathering over the edge of a beetling cliff, as if they were ostrich-plumes. 1864 Ld. Tennyson Enoch Arden in Enoch Arden, etc. 30 Her full-busted figure-head Stared o'er the ripple feathering from her bows. 1881 R. D. Blackmore Christowell (1882) iv Like the wave and dip of barley feathering to a gentle July breeze. b. U.S. Of cream: To rise upon the surface of tea, etc. like small flakes or feathers. ΚΠ 1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) The cream feathers. 1889 in J. S. Farmer Americanisms 1890 Critic (N.Y.) 21 June 314/1 To keep cream from feathering in hot weather. c. transitive. To send up feather-wise. rare. ΚΠ 1861 G. W. Thornbury Life J. M. W. Turner I. 222 Where..Vesuvius feathers up its quiet plume of pure white smoke. 9. Of a flower (chiefly, a tulip), to be feathered: to be marked with feather-like lines. ΘΚΠ the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > flower or flowering plant > be a flowering plant [verb (intransitive)] > have particular marking or colouring to be feathered1833 break1835 lace1844 1833 Hogg Suppl. Florists' Flowers 31 When a Tulip is feathered with dark purple. 1881 Gardeners' Chron. 16 748 The outer segments variously feathered with dark purple. 10. transitive. To cut (wood, etc.) down gradually to a thin edge. Cf. feather-edged adj. ΘΚΠ the world > space > shape > fact or condition of tapering > taper [verb (transitive)] > the edge feather-edge1648 feather1782 the world > space > shape > sharpness of edge or point > sharpen (a thing) [verb (transitive)] > sharpen edge edgea800 feather-edge1648 feather1782 fine-edge1824 1782 Edgeworth in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 73 138 An arm of deal, feather-edged, and supported by stays of the same material, feathered in the same manner. 1794 S. Vince in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 85 44 Pieces of lead with the edges feathered off. 11. a. to feather an oar: to turn it as it leaves the water at the end of a stroke, so that it may pass through the air edgeways. ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling boat by oars, paddle, or pole > [verb (intransitive)] > row > make stroke with oar > feather oar to feather an oara1740 a1740 [implied in: Tickell in Webster's Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. (1890) The feathering oar returns the gleam. (at feathering adj. b)]. 1774 C. Dibdin Waterman in W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1827) II. 1062 He feather'd his oars with..skill. 1847 J. Wilson Christopher North I. 248 We to-day shall feather an oar. b. To fix (paddle-boards) so as to offer the least resistance while entering and leaving the water. (Cf. feathering adj. b.) ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling other than by sail or oars > propel boat other than by sail or oars [verb (transitive)] > adjust paddle-wheel floats reef1834 feather1848 1848 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1847 71 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (30th Congr., 1st Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 54) VI Improvements in the mode of feathering the floats of paddle wheels. c. transitive. To rotate (the blades of a propeller) so that they are parallel to the direction of motion and offer the least resistance to the water or air when not driven. Hence, on a rotating-wing aircraft (or helicopter): to vary the angle of incidence of (the blades). ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling other than by sail or oars > propel boat other than by sail or oars [verb (transitive)] > feather propeller feather1883 society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > means of propulsion > [verb (transitive)] > feather propeller feather1909 society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > rotary wing aircraft > [verb (transitive)] > vary angle of incidence of blades feather1955 1883 A. E. Seaton Man. Marine Engin. xv. 298 Yachts and ships which are required to sail as well as steam, cannot well do the former when the screw is stopped, unless some means be adopted of feathering the blades. 1909 F. T. Jane All World's Air-ships 52/1 The blades can be feathered, and either propeller feathered independently of the other. 1921 S. W. Barnaby Marine Propellers (ed. 6) iii. 58 In a twin-screw ship screws that can be feathered fore and aft by internal mechanism will be found advantageous. 1940 Flight 15 Aug. e/2 Should a power unit in a multi-engined aircraft suddenly fail..it is a great advantage to be able to feather the airscrew. 1947 Times 2 Sept. 2/5 After gaining height the piston engines were switched off and their airscrews feathered. 1955 R. N. Liptrot & J. D. Woods Rotorcraft v. 44 Displacement (or lag) therefore causes any movement about the flapping hinge..to ‘feather’ the blade, that is change its incidence. 1967 C. H. Barnes Shorts Aircraft 358 For the first time a fully loaded Sunderland could be flown safely with two airscrews feathered on the same side. d. intransitive. Of a propeller: to assume a ‘feathered’ position (see feathered adj. 8b). ΘΚΠ society > travel > travel by water > propelling other than by sail or oars > propel boat other than by sail or oars [verb (intransitive)] > feather (of propeller) feather1933 society > travel > air or space travel > a means of conveyance through the air > aeroplane > parts of aircraft > means of propulsion > [verb (intransitive)] > assume specific state (of propeller) feather1933 windmill1934 1933 Jane's Fighting Ships 228 Variable pitch propeller on inner shaft which ‘feathers’ when Turbines only are used. 1951 Engineering 9 Mar. 301/2 Propellers of aircraft..so built that they could ‘feather’. III. In various uses. 12. Shooting. To knock a few feathers from (a bird) without killing. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > shooting > shoot game [verb (transitive)] > shoot without killing wing1802 tailor1889 feather1890 prick1900 1890 R. Payne-Gallwey Lett. to Young Shooters 137 You would have shot ‘well behind’, and not even feathered the tail of a cock-pheasant. 1892 Field 9 Apr. 524/1 Mr. Mervyn Watts..feathered a strong bird from No. 2 trap. 13. Hunting. a. Of a hound: To make a quivering movement with the tail and body, while searching for the trail. ΘΚΠ the world > food and drink > hunting > hunting with hounds > work done by hounds > action of hounds [verb (intransitive)] > search for game or scent > quiver feather1803 the world > action or operation > endeavour > searching or seeking > make a search [verb (intransitive)] seekc1000 ofsechec1300 searchc1330 laita1400 ripea1400 to cast about1575 to fall about1632 quest1669 to bush about or out1686 beat1709 to cast about one1823 feather1892 1803 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1804) 7 111 The leading hound, beginning to feather. 1839 F. P. D. Radcliffe Noble Sci.: Ideas Fox-hunting ix. 163 See that old bitch how she feathers—how her stern vibrates with the quickened action of her pulses. 1861 G. F. Berkeley Eng. Sportsman 310 At last Druid began ‘to feather’..on the traces of a deer. 1892 Field 7 May In a lot of oats Saul feathered about, but could not find. b. Of the huntsman (see quot. 1884). ΚΠ 1884 R. Jefferies Red Deer vii. 118 The harbourer likes to ‘feather’—to set the hounds direct on the trail. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022). < n.c850v.c888 |
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