14. In various phrases: (to wear) the bull's feather: see bulln.1 Compounds 3b. Nauticalto cut a feather: see cutv. 38b. In quot. figurative. To move briskly.
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1684 T. GoddardPlato's Demon 317 Men who..have not the skill to cut a feather, very often dance themselves into that noose.
1821 W. ScottPirate III. vii. 151 He shambles about..as well as ever he did—for Jack could never cut a feather.