beardletn.
/ˈbɪədlᵻt/, U.S. /ˈbɪrdlət/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
1804 Monthly Rev. 43 App. 463 The largest..have long downy beards, which are so many small feathers, with their complete complement of beardlets [Fr. barbilles], perfectly visible.
1829 E. Griffith et al. Cuvier's Animal Kingdom VIII. 297 The barbs of their feathers are so little supplied with beardlets, that at a distance they look like hair, or a pendant mane.
2. A small beard.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > hair > hair on lower part of face > [noun] > beard > types of
bush-beard1606
bush1647
barbula1688
beardlet1847
doormat1909
1847 S. Carr tr. C. A. Wildenhahn Paul Gerhardt I. viii. 145 A carefully trimmed moustache covered his upper lip; while cheek and chin were closely shaven, with the exception of a small beardlet, just below the nether lip.
1928 Daily Express 21 July 15/2 The beardlet adorning the under-lip of Lord Bertie of Thame.
2002 Network World (Nexis) 18 Mar. 66 I must go and trim my beardlet.
ΚΠ
1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Beardlet, a small beard or awn.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
1829 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Plants 57 Panicle much branched oblong close, Branches erect, Paleæ beardletted, Ligula torn.
1857 W. Rhind Hist. Veg. Kingdom (rev. ed.) 699/2 Beardletted, having small awns.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1804