Zool. any of the growths covering the body of a bird or making up a large part of the wing surface, as down or contour feathers: a typical contour feather consists of a horny central shaft, partly hollow, from which light, soft, narrow barbs, with interlocking barbules and barbicels, extend to form a thin, flat surface
a feather or featherlike part fastened to the shaft of an arrow to help control its flight
anything like or suggesting a feather or feathers in appearance, lightness, etc., as
a trifle
a projecting part, esp. for fitting into a groove
an irregular flaw in a gem
the fringe of hair along the tail and along the back of the legs of some dogs
Archaic
plumage
attire; dress
class; kind: enthusiasts of every feather
frame of mind; temper; vein
the act of feathering an oar or propeller
transitive verb
to provide (an arrow, etc.) with a feather
to cover, fit, or fringe with or as with feathers
to give a featheredge to
to join by inserting a wedge-shaped part into a groove
to turn (the blade of an oar) parallel to the line of movement in recovering after a stroke, so as to offer the least resistance to air or water
to turn (the blade of a propeller) on its shaft so that its leading and trailing edges are nearly parallel with the airplane's line of flight, thus preventing engine damage caused by airflow turning the propeller during an engine failure
to change the angle of the blades of a helicopter rotor