feathers definition | Dictionary.com

feath⋅er

[feth

-er]

–noun

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.

–verb (used with object)

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.

a.	to change the blade angle of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are approximately parallel to the line of flight.

b.	to turn off (an engine) while in flight.

–verb (used without object)

16.	to grow feathers.

17.	to be or become feathery in appearance.

18.	to move like feathers.

19.	Rowing. to feather an oar.

—Verb phrase

20.	feather into, South Midland U.S. to attack (a person, task, or problem) vigorously.

—Idioms

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.

Origin:
bef. 900; ME, OE fether; c. D veder, G Feder, ON fjǫthr; akin to Gk pterón, Skt pátram wing, feather

Related forms:

feath⋅er⋅less, adjective

feath⋅er⋅less⋅ness, noun

feath⋅er⋅like, adjective

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feather key

–noun Machinery.

a rectangular key connecting the keyways of a shaft and a hub of a gear, pulley, etc., fastened in one keyway and free to slide in the other so that the hub can drive or be driven by the shaft at various positions along it.

Also called feather, spline.

plug and feathers

–noun

an apparatus for splitting stone, consisting of two tapered bars (feathers), inserted into a hole drilled into the stone, between which a narrow wedge (plug) is hammered to spread them.

Origin:
1835–45

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To feathers

feath·er (fěth'ər)

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n.

One of the light, flat growths forming the plumage of birds, consisting of numerous slender, closely arranged parallel barbs forming a vane on either side of a horny, tapering, partly hollow shaft.
feathers Plumage.
feathers Clothing; attire.
A feathery tuft or fringe of hair, as on the legs or tail of some dogs.
Character, kind, or nature: Birds of a feather flock together.
Something small, trivial, or inconsequential.
1. A strip, wedge, or flange used as a strengthening part.
2. A wedge or key that fits into a groove to make a joint.
The vane of an arrow.
A feather-shaped flaw, as in a precious stone.
The wake made by a submarine's periscope.
The act of feathering the blade of an oar in rowing.

v. feath·ered, feath·er·ing, feath·ers

v. tr.

To cover, dress, or decorate with or as if with feathers.
To fit (an arrow) with a feather.
1. To thin, reduce, or fringe the edge of by cutting, shaving, or wearing away.
2. To shorten and taper (hair) by cutting and thinning.
3. To alter the pitch of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are parallel with the line of flight.
4. To alter the pitch of (the rotor of a helicoptor) while in forward flight.
To connect with a tongue-and-groove joint.
To turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal as it is carried back after each stroke.
1. To alter the pitch of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are parallel with the line of flight.
2. To alter the pitch of (the rotor of a helicoptor) while in forward flight.
To turn off (an aircraft engine) while in flight.

v. intr.

To grow feathers or become feathered.
To move, spread, or grow in a manner suggestive of feathers.
To feather an oar.
To feather a propeller.

[Middle English fether, from Old English; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

feather (fě

'ər) Pronunciation Key

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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.

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