View synonyms for white feather

white feather

noun

, Chiefly British.

a symbol of cowardice.

white feather

noun

a symbol or mark of cowardice
show the white feather
to act in a cowardly manner

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Word History and Origins

Origin of white feather¹

First recorded in 1775–85; originally from a white feather in a gamecock's tail, taken as a sign of inferior breeding and hence of poor fighting qualities

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Word History and Origins

Origin of white feather¹

from the belief that a white feather in a gamecock's tail was a sign of a poor fighter

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

show the white feather, to behave in a cowardly manner.

More idioms and phrases containing white feather

see show the white feather .

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Example Sentences

Around her throat was a white feather boa, while her features were half concealed by the veil she wore.

From Project Gutenberg

Three more civilians, wearing the white-feather symbol on their overcoats, advanced toward Winfree.

From Project Gutenberg

He took the little white feather from his hatbrim and attached it to Winfree's tattered, blood-stained tunic.

From Project Gutenberg

And, if you don't mind, I'll lend you a white feather hat and boa.

From Project Gutenberg

Instantly beside them on the forest floor they saw three soft white feather beds.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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