Feather

fe th ′ėr, n. one of the growths which form the covering of a bird: a feather-like ornament: the feathered end of an arrow: nature, kind, as in 'birds of a feather:' birds collectively: anything light or trifling.— v.t. to furnish or adorn with feathers.— ns. Feath′er-bed , a mattre filled with feathers; Feath′er-board′ing (same as Weather-boarding , q.v.).— p.adj. Feath′ered , covered or fitted with feathers, or anything feather-like: like the flight of a feathered animal, swift: smoothed as with feathers.— ns. Feath′er-edge , an edge of a board or plank thinner than the other edge; Feath′er-gra , a perennial gra , so called from the feathery appearance of its awns; Feath′er-head , Feath′er-brain , a frivolous person; Feath′erine ; Feath′ering , plumage: the fitting of feathers to arrows: ( arch it. ) an arrangement of small arcs or foils separated by projecting cusps, frequently forming the feather-like ornament on the inner mouldings of arches; Feath′er-star , a crinoid of feathery appearance and radiate structure; Feath′er-weight , the lightest weight that may be carried by a racing-horse: a boxer, wrestler, ., of a cla below the light-weights—hence one of small importance or ability.— adj. Feath′ery , pertaining to, resembling, or covered with feathers.— Feather an oar , to turn the blade of the oar horizontally as it comes out of the water, thus le ening the resistance of the air; Feather one's nest , to accumulate wealth for one's self while serving others in a position of trust.— A feather in one's cap , some striking mark of distinction; Be in high feather , to be greatly elated or in high spirits; Make the feathers fly , to throw into confusion by a sudden attack; Show the white feather , to show signs of cowardice—a white feather in a gamecock's tail being considered as a sign of degeneracy. [A.S. feðer ; Ger. feder ; L. penna , Gr. pteron .]