sickle feather

American  

noun

1. one of the paired, elongated, sickle-shaped, middle feathers of the tail of the rooster.

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sickle feather British  

noun

1. (often plural) any of the elongated tail feathers of certain birds, esp the domestic cock

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Etymology

Origin of sickle feather

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

The tail should be black and the sickle feathers tinged with a reddish white.

From Project Gutenberg

The description ends with the conclusion that the growth of the spurs, and to a certain extent that of the long, curved sickle feathers, is not prevented by castration.

From Project Gutenberg