feathering

[feth -er-ing]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR feathering ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a covering of feathers; plumage.

the arrangement of feathers on an arrow.

Music. a very light and delicate use of the violin bow.

Origin of feathering

First recorded in 1520–30; feather + -ing¹

Related formsun·der·feath·er·ing, noun

feather

[feth -er]

noun

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.

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

Related formsfeath·er·less, adjectivefeath·er·less·ness, nounfeath·er·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for feathering

give, contribute, administer, bring, equip, prepare, grant, transfer, add, lend, afford, serve, produce, cater, present, arrange, yield, keep, maintain, implement

Examples from the Web for feathering

Contemporary Examples of feathering

Republicans are spending the vast majority of their time tarring and feathering each other.
Why Obama Won't Back a Strike on Iran
Andrew Bast
February 26, 2012
Never mind that China obsessively focuses on feathering its own economic nest, often at the expense of poor nations.
We Just Saw the Future
Leslie H. Gelb
December 20, 2009

Historical Examples of feathering

The crew instantly levelled their oars, feathering the blades.
The Boat Club
Oliver Optic
On the return, the young oarsmen were instructed in feathering their oars.
The Boat Club
Oliver Optic
The oarsmen levelled their oars, feathering the blades, and listening to the march.
The Boat Club
Oliver Optic
Rising and going back to the feathering of the prayer-stick.
The Arrow-Maker
Mary Austin
There shall be no tarring and feathering of women by any man in my employ.
The Prairie Mother
Arthur Stringer

British Dictionary definitions for feathering

feathering

noun

the plumage of a bird; feathers

another word for feathers (def. 2)

printing

an imperfection in print caused by the spreading of ink
the use of additional space between lines in typesetting in order to fill the page

feather

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

rowing the 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 feather people of the same type, character, or interests

feather in one's cap a cause for pleasure at one's achievementsyour promotion is a feather in your cap

not take a feather out of someone or not knock a feather out of someone Irish to fail to upset or injure someoneit didn't take a feather out of him

verb

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

rowing to 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 nest to provide oneself with comforts, esp financial

Word Origin for feather

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for feathering

feather

Old English feðer "feather," in plural, "wings," from Proto-Germanic *fethro (cf. Old Saxon fethara, Old Norse fioþr, Swedish fjäder, Middle Dutch vedere, Dutch veder, Old High German fedara, German Feder), from PIE *pet-ra-, from root *pet- "to rush, to fly" (see petition (n.)). Feather-headed "silly" is from 1640s. Feather duster attested by 1858. Figurative use of feather in (one's) cap attested by 1734.

feather

Old English fiðerian "to furnish with feathers or wings," from feðer (see feather (n.)). Meaning "to fit (an arrow) with feathers" is from early 13c.; that of "to deck, adorn, or provide with plumage" is from late 15c. In reference to oars (later paddles, propellers, etc.) from 1740. Phrase feather one's nest "enrich oneself" is from 1580s. Related: Feathered; feathering.

feathering in Science

feather

[fĕð′ər]

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.

Idioms and Phrases with feathering

feather

In addition to the idioms beginning with feather

feather in one's cap, a
feather one's nest

also see:

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