pinfeather

American  

[pin-feth-er] / ˈpɪnˌfɛð ər /

noun

Ornithology.

1. an undeveloped feather before the web portions have expanded.

2. a feather just coming through the skin.

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pinfeather British  

/ ˈpɪnˌfɛðə /

noun

1. ornithol a feather emerging from the skin and still enclosed in its horny sheath

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Etymology

Origin of pinfeather

First recorded in 1765–75; pin + feather

Example Sentences

Hospital Tommy drew a pinfeather toothpick from under his smock.

From Literature

Now a dark pinfeather is a blot upon the fair surface of a fine chicken or duck, and the thrifty housewife in selecting her dinner will always leave the pins behind.

From Project Gutenberg

And as George, seeing his opportunity, commenced to compliment Toby, and engage his attention, the result was that he got his partridge not only completely denuded down to the last pinfeather, but split along the back in the bargain.

From Project Gutenberg

Other pinfeather fliers, who turned their checkered caps backward when they climbed into their planes, called him "The Dude."

From Time Magazine Archive

Famished after their uphill fight, they fell to and swallowed many a pinfeather in their eagerness.

From Time Magazine Archive