Illustration of feather
- A-1 quill
- A-2 vane; B-1 barb
- B-2 barbule
- B-3 barbicel with hamulus
1
a
: any of the light, horny epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds
Note: Feathers include the smaller down feathers and the larger contour and flight feathers. Larger feathers consist of a shaft (rachis) bearing branches (barbs) which bear smaller branches (barbules). These smaller branches bear tiny hook-bearing processes (barbicels) which interlock with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous stiff vane. Down feathers lack barbules, resulting in fluffy feathers which provide insulation below the contour feathers.
b
archaic
: plume sense 2a
c
: the vane of an arrow
2
4
: a projecting strip, rib, fin, or flange
5
: a feathery flaw in the eye or in a precious stone
6
: the act of feathering an oar
featherless
adjective
see also:
feathered; feathering
ˈfet͟h-riŋ
ˈfe-t͟hə-
1
a
: to furnish (something, such as an arrow) with a feather
b
: to cover, clothe, or adorn with or as if with feathers
2
a
: to turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal when lifting from the water at the end of a stroke to reduce air resistance
b(1)
: to change the angle of (airplane propeller blades) so that the chords become approximately parallel to the line of flight
also
: to change the angle of airplane propeller blades of (an engine) in such a manner
(2)
: to change the angle of (a rotor blade of a rotorcraft) periodically in forward flight
3
: to reduce the edge of to a featheredge
4
a
of a bird
: to cut (the air) with a wing
b
of a fish
: to cut (the water) with a fin
5
: to join by a tongue and groove
6
: to hit, throw, pass, or shoot softly and usually with precision
feathered a perfect lob over the net
1
: to grow or form feathers
2
: to have or take on the appearance of a feather or something feathered
3
: to soak in and spread : blur
—used of ink or a printed impression
4
: to feather an oar or an airplane propeller blade
see also:
Cite this Entry
“Feather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feather. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.
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