noun / verb

feather

FEH-ther/ˈfeðər/

A light branching structure forming a bird's outer covering.

The feather has a slender central shaft, interlocking barbs, and a downy base.

A single naturally shed bird flight feather, large and isolated, with a slender central shaft, finely interlocking barbs, and a soft downy base.

Etymology

Old English feðer named an individual feather, while its plural could mean “wings.” The word thus connected a bird’s separate covering elements with the larger structures they form.

In context

Insider Science7:34

Back in the old days they didn't make too many spread wings or flat skins. And us in the Feather Lab really like that, because it allows us access to feathers that occur under the wing

Why Over 600,000 Bird Specimens Are Preserved At The Smithsonian | Colossal Collections

More examples

The duck cleans its feathers with its bill.
The costume designer feathers the hat with colorful plumes.
She feathers the wet paint's edges with a dry brush.

Forms

feather · feathers · feathered · feathering

feathery adjective — Soft and light, like a feather.

Similar words

plume: Usually a large, showy feather used for display or decoration.
down: The soft, fluffy feathers beneath a bird's outer feathers.