feather

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A branching, hair-like structure that grows on the bodies of birds, used for flight, swimming, protection and display.

   Notice, too, that the shaft is not straight, but bent so that the upper surface of the feather is convex, and the lower concave.

2. 2
   noun

   A longitudinal strip projecting from an object to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sideways or rotationally but permit motion lengthwise.

   Near-synonym: spline

3. 3
   noun

   Kind; nature; species (from the proverbial phrase "birds of a feather").

   I am not of that feather to shake off / My friend when he must need me.

4. 4
   noun

   Anything petty or trifling; a whit or jot.

   To some pew purchasers he gave deeds, to others he gave, none, but both were promised security, and both it seems were equally secure, for the pew deed as Mr. Melledge declared to Mr. G. was not worth a feather.

5. 5
   noun

   A junction indicator attached to a colour-light signal at an angle, which lights up, typically with four white lights in a row, when a diverging route is set up.

   Signal M123 is a conventional 3-aspect colour light with three Junction Indicators - commonly known as 'feathers'.

6. 6
   verb

   To cover or furnish with feathers; (when of an arrow) to fletch.

   An Eagle had the ill Hap to be Struck with an Arrow Feather'd from her own Wing.

7. 7
   verb

   To adorn, as if with feathers; to fringe.

   A few birches and oaks still feathered the narrow ravines, or occupied in dwarf clusters the hollow plains of the moor.

8. 8
   verb

   To arrange in the manner or appearance of feathers.

   The stylist feathered my hair.

Etymology

From Middle English feþer, from Old English feþer, from Proto-West Germanic *feþru, from Proto-Germanic *feþrō, from Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ (“feather, wing”), from *peth₂- (“to fly”). Cognate with West Frisian fear (“feather”), Cimbrian bèdara, fòdara (“pillowcase”), vèdara (“feather”), Dutch veder, veer (“feather”), German Feder (“feather”), German Low German Fedder (“feather”), Luxembourgish Fieder (“feather”), Vilamovian faoder (“feather”), Yiddish פֿעדער (feder, “feather”), Danish fjeder, fjer (“feather”), Faroese fjøður (“feather”), Icelandic fjöður (“feather”), Norwegian Bokmål fjæ…