penna

American  

[pen-uh] / ˈpɛn ə /

noun

Ornithology.

pennae plural

1. a contour feather, as distinguished from a down feather, plume, etc.

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penna British  

/ pɛˈneɪʃəs, ˈpɛnə /

noun

1. ornithol any large feather that has a vane and forms part of the main plumage of a bird

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pennaceous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• pennae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penna

< Latin: feather. See pen ¹

Example Sentences

The word pen comes from the Latin penna, "a feather;" and as in olden days the ordinary pens were "quills" of birds, the name was very good.

From Stories That Words Tell Us by O'Neill, Elizabeth (Elizabeth Speakman)

A Noun is the name of a person, place, thing, or quality; as, Caesar, Caesar; Rōma, Rome; penna, feather; virtūs, courage.

From New Latin Grammar by Bennett, Charles E. (Charles Edwin)

Swallow-like, English poetry had hung about the eaves or skimmed the surface of town and court; but now, like the lark, it soared into freer air— Cœtusque vulgares et udam Spernit humum fugiente penna.

From English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction by Coppee, Henry

Related Words

• fringe
• plume