feathering

[ feth-er-ing ]

/ ˈfɛð ər ɪŋ /

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See 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.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of feathering

First recorded in 1520–30; feather + -ing¹

OTHER WORDS FROM feathering

un·der·feath·er·ing, noun

Words nearby feathering

feathered, featheredge, feather geranium, feather grass, featherhead, feathering, feather in one's cap, feather key, feather-legged, featherlight, feather merchant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use feathering in a sentence

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Yet Couric's tar-and-feathering may have been psychically useful to her.
Palin vs. The Power Girls|Tina Brown|October 5, 2008|DAILY BEAST
In the same vessel he adopted a feathering paddle-wheel and the guard-beam now universally seen in our river steamboats.
A History of the Growth of the Steam-Engine|Robert H. Thurston

For smaller vessels, the oscillating engine with feathering paddle-wheels is still largely employed in Europe.
A History of the Growth of the Steam-Engine|Robert H. Thurston
The usual arrangement is such that the feathering-wheel has the same action upon the water as a radial wheel of double diameter.
A History of the Growth of the Steam-Engine|Robert H. Thurston
And each missile bore its individual message to his memory—a tiny tuft of scarlet inserted in the feathering.
The Doomsman|Van Tassel Sutphen
At the last order the men levelled their oars, feathering the blades, and remained like eight statues in their seats.
Stand By The Union|Oliver Optic

British Dictionary definitions for feathering

feathering

/ (ˈfɛðərɪŋ) /

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

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

feathering

Origin of feathering

OTHER WORDS FROM feathering

Words nearby feathering

Words related to feathering

How to use feathering in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for feathering