feather

American  

[feth-er] / ˈfɛð ər /

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. plug and feathers

8. a featherlike flaw, especially in a precious stone.

9. Machinery. feather key.

10. Archaic. attire.

11. Obsolete. plumage.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide with feathers, as an arrow.

2. to clothe or cover with or as with feathers.

3. 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.

4. Aeronautics.

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

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

verb (used without object)

1. to grow feathers.

2. to be or become feathery in appearance.

3. to move like feathers.

4. Rowing. to feather an oar.

verb phrase

1. feather into to attack (a person, task, or problem) vigorously.

idioms

1. a feather in one's cap, a praiseworthy accomplishment; distinction; honor.

   Being chosen class president is a feather in her cap.

2. 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.

3. ruffle someone's feathers, to anger, upset, or annoy (another person).

4. 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.

5. in fine / high feather, in good form, humor, or health.

   feeling in fine feather.

6. birds of a feather. bird.

feather British  

/ ˈfɛðə /

noun

1. 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

2. something resembling a feather, such as a tuft of hair or grass

3. archery

   1. a bird's feather or artificial substitute fitted to an arrow to direct its flight

   2. the feathered end of an arrow, opposite the head

4. a strip, spline, or tongue of wood fitted into a groove

5. the wake created on the surface of the water by the raised periscope of a submarine

6. rowing the position of an oar turned parallel to the water between strokes Compare square

7. a step in ballroom dancing in which a couple maintain the conventional hold but dance side by side

8. condition of spirits; fettle

   in fine feather

9. something of negligible value; jot

   I don't care a feather

10. people of the same type, character, or interests

11. a cause for pleasure at one's achievements

    your promotion is a feather in your cap

12. to fail to upset or injure someone

    it didn't take a feather out of him

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verb

1. (tr) to fit, cover, or supply with feathers

2. rowing to turn (an oar) parallel to the water during recovery between strokes, principally in order to lessen wind resistance Compare square

3. (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

4. to change the pitch of (an aircraft propeller) so that the chord lines of the blades are in line with the airflow

5. (tr) to join (two boards) by means of a tongue-and-groove joint

6. (intr) (of a bird) to grow feathers

7. (intr) to move or grow like feathers

8. to provide oneself with comforts, esp financial

feather Scientific  

/ fĕth′ər /

1. 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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feather More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing feather

• birds of a feather
• fuss and feathers
• in fine feather
• knock down with a feather
• light as a feather
• make the dust (feathers) fly
• ruffle someone's feathers
• show the white feather
• tar and feather

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Other Word Forms

• feather-like adjective
• featherless adjective
• featherlessness noun
• featherlike adjective
• feathery adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

"We don't want a consultation. We want this decree revoked," Indigenous leader Gilson Tupinamba, wearing a large headdress of blue and orange feathers, told a meeting with government representatives on Wednesday.

From Barron's

The back features a genie’s lamp resting on an open book and a feathered quill with an olive branch in the background—symbols of peace, knowledge and learning.

From The Wall Street Journal

She fluffed out her feathers and flapped her wings at the snake.

From Literature

And while England's Pollock ruffles a few feathers, Rees-Zammit believes it is for the good of the game.

From BBC

Bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, Southern California’s most famous feathered power couple, have welcomed their first egg of the 2026 season in their Big Bear nest.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fringe
• plume