[feth
-er] 
| 1. | one of the horny structures forming the principal covering of birds, consisting typically of a hard, tubular portion attached to the body and tapering into a thinner, stemlike portion bearing a series of slender, barbed processes that interlock to form a flat structure on each side. |
| 2. | kind; character; nature: two boys of the same feather. |
| 3. | something like a feather, as a tuft or fringe of hair. |
| 4. | something very light, small, or trivial: Your worry is a mere feather. |
| 5. | Archery. one of the vanes at the tail of an arrow or dart. |
| 6. | Carpentry. a spline for joining the grooved edges of two boards. |
| 7. | Masonry. See under plug and feathers. |
| 8. | a featherlike flaw, esp. in a precious stone. |
| 9. | Machinery. feather key. |
| 10. | Archaic. attire. |
| 11. | Obsolete. plumage. |
| 12. | to provide with feathers, as an arrow. |
| 13. | to clothe or cover with or as with feathers. |
| 14. | Rowing. to turn (an oar) after a stroke so that the blade becomes nearly horizontal, and hold it thus as it is moved back into position for the next stroke. |
| 15. | Aeronautics.
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| 16. | to grow feathers. |
| 17. | to be or become feathery in appearance. |
| 18. | to move like feathers. |
| 19. | Rowing. to feather an oar. |
| 20. | feather into, South Midland U.S. to attack (a person, task, or problem) vigorously. |
| 21. | a feather in one's cap, a praiseworthy accomplishment; distinction; honor: Being chosen class president is a feather in her cap. |
| 22. | birds of a feather. bird (def. 15). |
| 23. | feather one's nest, to take advantage of the opportunities to enrich oneself: The mayor had used his term of office to feather his nest. |
| 24. | in fine or high feather, in good form, humor, or health: feeling in fine feather. |
| 25. | ruffle someone's feathers, to anger, upset, or annoy (another person). |
| 26. | smooth one's ruffled or rumpled feathers, to regain one's composure; become calm: After the argument, we each retired to our own rooms to smooth our ruffled feathers. |
An accomplishment a person can be proud of: “The negotiator's success in getting the terrorists to release their hostages was a real feather in her cap.”
feather (fě 'ər) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) One of the light, flat structures that cover the skin of birds. A feather is made of a horny substance and has a narrow, hollow shaft bearing flat vanes formed of many parallel barbs. The barbs of outer feathers are formed of even smaller structures (called barbules) that interlock. The barbs of down feathers do not interlock. Evolutionarily, feathers are modified scales, first seen in certain dinosaurs. |