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.
kind; character; nature: two boys of the same feather.
something like a feather, as a tuft or fringe of hair.
something very light, small, or trivial: Your worry is a mere feather.
Archery. one of the vanes at the tail of an arrow or dart.
Carpentry. a spline for joining the grooved edges of two boards.
Masonry. See under plug and feathers.
a featherlike flaw, especially in a precious stone.
Machinery. feather key.
Archaic. attire.
Obsolete. plumage.
verb (used with object)
to provide with feathers, as an arrow.
to clothe or cover with or as with feathers.
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.
Aeronautics.
to change the blade angle of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are approximately parallel to the line of flight.
to turn off (an engine) while in flight.
verb (used without object)
to grow feathers.
to be or become feathery in appearance.
to move like feathers.
Rowing. to feather an oar.
Verb Phrases
feather into,South Midland U.S.to attack (a person, task, or problem) vigorously.
Idioms for feather
a feather in one's cap, a praiseworthy accomplishment; distinction; honor: Being chosen class president is a feather in her cap.
birds of a feather. bird (def. 15).
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.
in fine / high feather, in good form, humor, or health: feeling in fine feather.
ruffle someone's feathers, to anger, upset, or annoy (another person).
smooth one's ruffled / 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 of feather
before 900; Middle English, Old English fether; cognate with Dutch veder,German Feder,Old Norse fjǫthr; akin to Greek pterón,Sanskrit pátram wing, feather
You can build your archery equipment with a sharp fixed-blade knife, some paracord, a flexible sapling, a few tree shoots for arrows, and a few feathers.
This essential survival tool can save your life 10 different ways|By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life|September 15, 2020|Popular Science
Perched and upright, the birds pointed their bills upwards, fluffed their feathers and stopped moving.
This hummingbird survives cold nights by nearly freezing itself solid|Jonathan Lambert|September 8, 2020|Science News
Their feathers or scales have multiple layers of intricate micro- or nanostructures to absorb light.
Superblack fish can disappear in the deep sea’s darkness|Erin Garcia de Jesus|August 10, 2020|Science News For Students
The fossil find further suggests that Microraptor, which lived 120 million years ago, may have shed only a few feathers at a time — just like modern songbirds, researchers report July 16 in Current Biology.
This dinosaur may have shed its feathers like modern songbirds|Carolyn Gramling|July 16, 2020|Science News
In a never-before-seen particle, four quarks of a feather flock together.
This is the first known particle with four of the same kind of quark|Maria Temming|July 7, 2020|Science News
The Cessna landed like a feather on Bettles Field, a long, flat airstrip built by the Navy during World War II.
Feather had recorded as a pianist, and although he would never put Oscar Peterson out of business, he knew his sharps and flats.
Music Criticism Has Degenerated Into Lifestyle Reporting|Ted Gioia|March 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Cruz and Paul are speaking to significantly different audiences, despite being wacko birds of a feather.
Ted Cruz Might Just Have Won the Future for the GOP|Nick Gillespie|September 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
They're doing their best, but they're fighting a dinosaur with a feather.
New Issue of Democracy: Money in Politics and Lots More|Michael Tomasky|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Loeb was notorious for front-page editorials that often employed a sledgehammer where a feather duster would do.
Joe McQuaid: Union Leader Publisher Is GOP Kingmaker in New Hampshire|Lloyd Grove|December 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
During 1848 ten million dollars' worth of gold had been gathered on the Yuba, American and Feather rivers.
Peculiarities of American Cities|Willard Glazier
Whirling it like a feather round his head, the maniac rushed on.
The Madman and the Pirate|R.M. Ballantyne
Thus far, at least, are we safe; for which may Heaven alone be praised, since no art of mine could avail us a feather.
The Red Rover|James Fenimore Cooper
As the lion bounded away through the assembled party, it appeared as if the ox was not a feather's weight to him.
The Mission|Frederick Marryat
She was in a short tailored suit, Eton collar, Alpine hat and feather.
The Salamander|Owen Johnson
British Dictionary definitions for feather
feather
/ (ˈfɛðə) /
noun
any of the flat light waterproof epidermal structures forming the plumage of birds, each consisting of a hollow shaft having a vane of barbs on either side. They are essential for flight and help maintain body temperature
something resembling a feather, such as a tuft of hair or grass
archery
a bird's feather or artificial substitute fitted to an arrow to direct its flight
the feathered end of an arrow, opposite the head
a strip, spline, or tongue of wood fitted into a groove
the wake created on the surface of the water by the raised periscope of a submarine
rowingthe position of an oar turned parallel to the water between strokesCompare square (def. 8)
a step in ballroom dancing in which a couple maintain the conventional hold but dance side by side
condition of spirits; fettlein fine feather
something of negligible value; jotI don't care a feather
birds of a featherpeople of the same type, character, or interests
feather in one's capa cause for pleasure at one's achievementsyour promotion is a feather in your cap
not take a feather out of someoneornot knock a feather out of someoneIrishto fail to upset or injure someoneit didn't take a feather out of him
verb
(tr)to fit, cover, or supply with feathers
rowingto turn (an oar) parallel to the water during recovery between strokes, principally in order to lessen wind resistanceCompare square (def. 41)
(in canoeing) to turn (a paddle) parallel to the direction of the canoe between strokes, while keeping it in the water, principally in order to move silently
to change the pitch of (an aircraft propeller) so that the chord lines of the blades are in line with the airflow
(tr)to join (two boards) by means of a tongue-and-groove joint
(intr)(of a bird) to grow feathers
(intr)to move or grow like feathers
feather one's nestto provide oneself with comforts, esp financial
Old English fether; related to Old Frisian fethere, Old Norse fjöthr feather, Old High German fedara wing, Greek petesthai to fly, Sanskrit patati he flies
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.