swan's-down
Britishnoun
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the fine soft down feathers of a swan, used to trim powder puffs, clothes, etc
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a thick soft fabric of wool with silk, cotton, or rayon, used for infants' clothing, etc
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a cotton fabric with a heavy nap
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The lines of her figure were shrouded in a loose, wadded gown of dove-coloured silk, bordered with swan's-down.
From The History of Sir Richard Calmady A Romance by Malet, Lucas
So the dress was a perfect pearl, light as gossamer, thin as bee's-wing, soft as swan's-down; and the King made Gammelyn his chief jeweller, and set all the other jewellers free.
From Moonshine & Clover by Housman, Laurence
Kaposia's village, clustered on the shore, With sound of snapping poles and tipis riven, Vanished like swan's-down by a tempest driven.
From Indian Legends of Minnesota by Severance, Cordenio A., Mrs.
If a gold-laced waistcoat has an empty pouch, the plain swan's-down will be the brawer of the twa.”
From St. Ronan's Well by Scott, Walter, Sir
The snow was only two or three inches deep when Caius walked home; it was light as plucked swan's-down about his feet.
From The Mermaid A Love Tale by Dougall, Lily
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
