Feather sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Feather sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1901, rev. 2022. Feather sb. Forms: α. 1, 2 feðer, 3 south. veðer, 2–5 feþer(e, -ir, 4–6 feder, 5 fedder, 5 fedyr, 4–6 fether, 6– feather. β. 1 fiðer(e, fyðer(e, 2 fi-, fyðer, 2, 4 fyþer. [Com. Teut. OE. feðer str. fem. = OS. fethara (Du. veder, veer), OHG. fedara (MHG. veder(e, mod.G. feder), ON. fiǫþr (Icel. fjöðr, Da. fjeder, Sw. fjäder):—OTeut. *feþrâ:—pre-Teut. *petrā fem., corresponding (exc. as to declension) to Gr. πτερόν wing, f. root *pet-, whence Skr. pat, Gr. πέτεσθαι to fly. With this word in ME. was to some extent confounded its derivative fiðere neut., wing (:—pre-Eng. type *fiþrjo-m), the examples of which are therefore placed here.]

1   I.  As an appendage.

2   1.  One of the epidermal appendages of a bird, usually in the form of a central shaft or midrib, of a horny nature, in part tubular, for the rest square in section and solid, fringed on either side with a ‘vane,’ i.e., a row of thin narrow plates mutually adpressed (the ‘barbs’), which form a rounded outline at the end. Often preceded by some qualifying word, as contour-, covert-, pin-, quill- etc. feather. In pl. also Plumage.

3 a. 1000.  Phœnix, 145 (Gr.).                Þriwa ascæceð feðre flyhthwate.

4 a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 140. Ase brid þet haueð lutel uleschs & monie ueðeren.

5 a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1688. Ne schal … a wrecche feþer on ow bileve.

6 1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XV. 173. Þe pokok and þe popeiay · with here proude federes.

7 c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 152/2. Fedyr, penna, pluma.

8 1508.  Fisher, Wks. (1876), I. 154. She [the sparowe] proyneth & setteth her feders in ordre.

9 1655.  Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 171. The best part of a Duck are his Feathers.

10 1748.  F. Smith, Voy. Disc. N.-W. Pass., I. 155. The whole Feathers (excepting the Pinion Feathers, and the large Feathers of the Tail) are double.

11 1870.  Yeats, Nat. Hist. Comm., 309. A feather consists of three parts, the quill, the shaft, and the vane.

12   b.  In various fig. expressions: † Two feathers out of a goose: a very small part of anything, † To gain more feathers: (of a rumour) to assume larger proportions. † To pick feathers off (a person): to plunder. † To pull the feathers off (a person’s fame): to detract from. To smooth one’s rumpled feathers: to recover one’s equanimity. To find a white feather in one’s tail; to mount, show the white feather: (in allusion to the fact, that a white feather in a game-bird’s tail is a mark of inferior breeding) to perceive, show signs of cowardice. To crop the feathers of: to strip of bravery and pomp.

13 c. 1430.  Lydg., Bochas, I. xii. (1544), 24 a. Of his good fame she gan the feders pull.

14 1600.  Holland, Livy, IX. xxxviii. (1609), 342. The brute … got more feathers still as it flew.

15 1677.  Yarranton, Eng. Improv., 24. All that is desired is but two Feathers out of their Goose. Ibid., 25. The Lawyers Objections are only made … that they may pick some more Feathers off him.

16 1825.  On Bull-baiting, I. (Houlston Tracts, I. xxvii. 4). I’ve long guess’d … that we should find a white feather in thy tail.

17 1827.  Pollok, Course T., V. 1000.        Hatred was lost in Love; and Vanity, With a good conscience pleased, her feathers cropped.

18 1829.  Scott, Jrnl., 15 April. Whether I succeed or not, it would be dastardly to give in. A bold countenance often carries off an indifferent cause, but no one will defend him who shows the white feather.

19 1849.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, lix. ‘She’s in an excited state to-night,’ said Simon as he smoothed his rumpled feathers, ‘and don’t know when she’s well off.’

20 1856.  Reade, Never too Late, xvi. So you come in robust health and spirits and tempt a poor broken sick creature to mount the white feather.

21   c.  Proverb.

22 1714.  Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1728), I. 130. Fine Feathers make fine Birds, and People where they are not known, are generally honour’d according to their Cloaths and other Accoutrements they have about them.

23   d.  transf.

24 1784.  Cowper, Task, V. 26.                            The bents And coarser grass, upspearing o’er the rest, Of late unsightly and unseen, now shine Conspicuous, and in bright apparel clad, And fledged with icy feathers, nod superb.

25 1821.  Shelley, Prometh. Unb., IV. 219.        Within it sits a wingèd infant, white Its countenance, like the whiteness of bright snow, Its plumes are as feathers of sunny frost, Its limbs gleam white, through the wind-flowing folds, Of its white robe, woof of ætherial pearl.

26   2.  collect. Plumage; also transf. (of plants); and in fig. sense: Attire, ‘get-up.’ All fowls in feather = birds of all feather.

27 c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 343. All fowles in ffether fell þere vppon.

28 a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 5604.        Þar fand þai bridis in þa bilds · borely & quite, Of feþir fresch as any fame · as ere þir feditt dowfis.

29 a. 1634.  Randolph, Amyntas, II. iii.          Mop. … And what’s their Feather?   Co.              Like the copple-crowne The Lap-wing has.

30 1842.  Tennyson, Talking Oak, 269.        All grass of silky feather grow—   And white he sinks or swells The full south-breeze around thee blow   The sound of minster bells.

31 1842.  G. Darling, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 10. Which proved to be the male in tolerable feather and condition.

32 1855.  Thackeray, Newcomes, II. 34. I saw him in full clerical feather.

33   b.  In fig. phrases. In fine, good, high, etc. feather: in good condition of health, spirits, etc. Of the weather: High feather = brilliant condition. † A man of (the first) feather: one of (very) showy parts. To cut out of all feather: to take all ‘the shine’ out of.

34 1592.  Nashe, P. Penilesse, Wks. (Grosart), II. 78. You shall heare a Caualier of the first feather, a princockes that was but a Page the other day in the Court, and now is all to be frenchified in his Souldiers sute.

35 1667.  Dryden, Maiden Queen, V. i. A man of garniture and feather is above the dispensation of the sword.

36 1828.  Scott, Jrnl. (1890), II. 139. I was in the secret, of course, did my best to keep up the ball, but she cut me out of all feather.

37 1844.  Dickens, Mart. Chuz. (Househ, ed.), 416/2. Todgers’s was in high feather.

38 1852.  R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, xiii. 65. Our friend Soapey was now in good feather; he had got a large price for his good-for-nothing horse.

39 1855.  Dickens, Dorrit, xxxii. I’m in wonderful feather, Sir. I can’t stop a minute, or I shall be missed, and I don’t want ’em to miss me.

40 1873.  Edwardes & Merivale, Life Sir H. Lawrence, I. 389. Havelock in great feather showed us round the fields of battle.

41 1878.  T. Hardy, Return of Native, i. (1879), 10. Only in summer days of highest feather did its mood touch the level of gaiety.

42 1886.  Baring-Gould, Court Royal, xxiv. Never was Mr. Rigsby in finer feather than at Court Royal.

43   c.  Description of plumage; species (of bird). Often transf. in phrases of the same, that, every, etc. feather: = of the same, etc. kind or character. Proverb, Birds of a feather flock together.

44 1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 300. A Byrd of the same feather, filling the ayre with hys croaking.

45 1599.  Minsheu, Sp. Gram., 83. Birdes of a feather will flocke togither.

46 1607.  Shaks., Timon, I. i. 100. I am not of that Feather, to shake off My Friend when he must neede me.

47 1608.  Day, Hum. out of Br., IV. iii. A whole brood of signets, and all of a feather.

48 1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Alaine, A bird of his owne feather.

49 1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 59–60. Like loveth like; broken men and bankrupts flee together to woods and mountains; an outlaw loveth an outlaw; fowls of a feather flock together.

50 1650.  R. Stapylton, Strada’s The History of the Low-Countrey Warres, V. 121. The confederated Ghenses willingly took upon them the protection of the Commons, because many of the Covenanters were birds of the same feather, and all of them ambitious to be Masters and Tribunes of the people.

51 1665.  J. Spencer, Vulg. Prophecies, 70. He knows good men are soonest decoyed by those which seem of a feather with themselves.

52 1767.  S. Paterson, Another Traveller! II. 48. Four hundred and fifty of them, will be of the misjudging feather.

53 1827.  Pollok, Course T., V. 328.        As birds of social feather, helping each His fellow’s flight, we soared into the skies.

54 1829.  Carlyle, Misc. (1857), I. 272. Literary quacks of every feather.

55 1878.  Browning, La Saisiaz.        Body hides—where?   Ferns of all feather,   Mosses and heather, Yours be the care!

56   † 3.  Used in pl. for: Wings. Obs. [Cf. L. pennæ; the pl. feðera was so used in OE., but some of the examples in 12–14th c. prob. belong to OE. fiðere wing.]

57 c. 850.  Martyrology Fragm., in O. E. Texts (1885), 177. Þa hi bæron to heofonum mid hiora fiðra flyhte.

58 c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvi. § 2. Ic hæbbe swiþe swifte feþera.

59 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxiii. 37. Swa seo henn hyre cicenu under hyre fyþeru [c. 1160, Hatton, fiþera] ȝegaderað.

60 c. 1200.  Vices & Virtues (1888), 101. Vnder ðare scadewe of ðine fiðeres.

61 c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., I. 64/357. And feþerene to beren eow up-on heiȝ.

62 a. 1340.  Hampole, Psalter, xvii. 12. He flow abouen þe feþirs of wyndes.

63 c. 1450.  De Imitatione, III. xxiii. Ȝeue me feders of very liberte.

64 1535.  Coverdale, 2 Sam. xxii. 11. He sat vpon Cherub and dyd flye, and appeared vpon the fethers of the wynde.

65 1595.  Shaks., John, IV. ii. 174. Be Mercurie, set feathers to thy heeles.

66 1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, I. 146. Josephus gave all Noah’s children feathers, to carry them far away.

67   fig.  c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., IV. i. 110. I shal ficche feþeres in þi þouȝt.

68 1593.  Shaks., The Rape of Lucrece, 1216.        For fleet-wing’d duetie with thoghts feathers flies,   Poore Lucrece cheeks unto her maid seem so,   As winter meads when sun doth melt their snow.

69 1595.  Drake’s Voy. (Hakluyt Soc.), 4. Hee hath feathers to fly to the toppe of his high desires.

70   4.  A feathered animal; a bird. Also collect. Feathered game.

71 1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., III. i. 71.        And like the Haggard, checke at euery Feather That comes before his eye.

72 1684.  R. H., School Recreat., 136. Your Setting-Dog must be Elected and Train’d thus: He must be of exquisite Scent, and love naturally to hunt Feathers.

73 1875.  ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Sports, I. I. vii. § 7. 106. The true Sussex may easily be kept strictly to feather, and though they will readily hunt fur when nothing else is to be had, they do not prefer it, as most other dogs do.

74 1887.  Pall Mall G., 24 Aug., 13/2. He wandered … slaying whatever of fur and feather came in his way.

75   II.  As a detached object.

76   5.  Simply; also pl. as a commodity.

77 c. 1000.  Sax. Leechd., I. 234. Smyre mid nire [i.e., niwre] feþere.

78 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1026. For … folde þer-on a lyȝt fyþer & hit to founs synkkez.

79 c. 1400.  Maundev. (Roxb.), xii. 50. If men caste a fether þerin, it synkez to þe grund.

80 c. 1440.  Anc. Cookery, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 469. And with a feder sprinke and spot the congour, but colour hit not altogeder; and serve hit forthe.

81 1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. i. 84.        Looke, as I blow this Feather from my Face, And as the Ayre blowes it to me againe.

82 1608–11.  Bp. Hall, Medit. & Vows, II. § 25. The Larke … while it playeth with the feather … is caught in the Fowlers-net. Ibid. (1614), A Recollection of such Treatises, 413. That was but as the fowlers feather, to make mee stoope.

83 1745.  De Foe’s Eng. Tradesman, xxvi. (1841), I. 266. The feathers also from the same country.

84 1800.  trans. Lagrange’s Chem., II. 422. Feathers … give nearly the same products as hair.

85 1841–4.  Emerson, Ess., Prudence, Wks. (Bohn), I. 99. Everything in nature, even motes and feathers, go by law.

86   b.  Proverb.

87 1861.  A. Leighton, Curious Storied Traditions, Ser. II. 263. There’s aye feathers where the doo [doves] roosts.

88   † 6.  A pen. Obs.

89 c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xvi. 6. Nim þine feðere & site hraðe & writ fiftiȝ.

90 c. 1205.  Lay., 49. Feþeren he [Laȝamon] nom mid fingren.

91   7.  A portion, or (sing. and pl.) portions, of a feather attached to the base of an arrow, to direct its flight. Also collect.

92 a. 1631.  Drayton, Robin Hood.        Their arrows finely pair’d, for timber and for feather, With birch and brazil piec’d, to fly in any weather.

93 1661.  Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 90. Those Historical Circumstances quarrell’d with, in Christ’s Parables, are like the Feathers that wing our Arrows, which though they Pierce not like the Head, but seem Slight things, and of a differing matter from the rest, are yet requisite to make the Shaft to pierce.

94 1748.  Richardson, Clarissa, Wks. 1883, VIII. 406. Whether now, the barbed dart of after-reflection sticks not in their hearts, as in mine, up to the very feathers?

95 1825.  Fosbroke, Encycl. Antiq. (1843), II. xiii. 689/1. They required nimble strong arrows, with a middling feather.

96 1874.  Boutell, Arms & Arm., viii. 134. The shafts of these arrows were provided, near their base, with feathers, or with strips of leather.

97   8.  As a personal decoration; a plume, esp. in ostrich-feather. Also collect. Prince of Wales’ feathers, also The feather: the plume of three ostrich feathers, first adopted as a crest by the Black Prince. Flush feather: see quot. 1823.

98 1473.  Warkw., Chron., 14. He … wered ane estryche feder.

99 1536.  Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 51. Turkes hattes of blake velwett and whyte feethers on there heades and vysars on their faces.

100 1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. iii. 24.        They must … leaue those remnants Of Foole and Feather.

101 1615.  J. Stephens, Satyr. Ess. (ed. 2), 211. Hee stickes a feather in his Hat.

102 1742.  Young, Nt. Th., viii. 429.        Not in the feather, wave it e’er so high, By Fortune stuck, to mark us from the throng, Is glory lodg’d.

103 1802.  Wolcott (P. Pindar), Gt. Cry Little Wool, Wks. 1812, V. 166.        The tradesmen, once proud of the feather,   Now cast higher glory their eye on: Soap, herrings, wigs, mouse-traps, and leather,   Are all looking out for a lion.

104 1804.  Windham, Sp. Additional Force Bill, 5 June, in Sp., 1812, II. 229 The volunteers have … feathers as high … as those of the regular troops.

105 1823.  Crabb, Technol. Dict., Feather (Mil.) an ornamental mark worn by officers and soldiers on their caps and hats … the flush feather, a straight smooth feather worn by officers on the staff.

106 1887.  Pall Mall G., 27 Sept. 11/1. The Prince of Wales’s feathers stand separate.

107   b.  Phrases: A feather in the cap, hat: a decoration, mark of honour, lit. and fig.; also † the badge of a fool; hence † Jack with the feather, a flume of feathers, for a trifling person. † To shake, wag the feather: to make a display of one’s honours.

108 1581.  Pettie, Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., Pref. (1586), A vj b. Though a man shake the feather after the best fashion, and take vpon hym never so bygly, he shall neuer be accounted of amongst the wyse, nor neuer be filed on the roale of ryght and sufficient Gentlemen.

109 1588.  Shaks., Loves Labour’s Lost, IV. i. 96. Qu. What plume of feathers is hee that indited this Letter?

110 a. 1633.  Floddan F., xii., in Child, Ballads, III. VI. clxviii. 353. Jack with a feather was lapt all in leather.

111 1655.  Fuller, The Church-History of Britain, V. iv. § 17. He wore a feather in his cap, and wagg’d it too often: meaning, he was over-free in his fancies and conceits.

112 a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. He has a Feather in his Cap, a Periphrasis for a tool.

113 1734.  Duchess of Portland, Lett. to Miss Collingwood, in Autob. Mrs. Delany, I. 511. My Lord is your most humble servant, and drank your health to-day by the Angel, and esteems it a feather in his hat, that you will own kindred with mortals.

114 1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, III. 370. A Feather in his Cap, was the least that was expected for him.

115 1818.  Byron, Juan, I. cxcix.        Their favour in an author’s cap’s a feather,   And no great mischief done by their caprice.

116 1874.  Helps, Soc. Press., v. 70. Ellesmere. It is always a feather in my cap when Cranmer condescends to approve of any part of anything I say.

117   9.  In pl. As material for filling bedding, etc.

118 1649.  G. Daniel, Trinarch., Rich. II., clxxviii.        And let him act it there; Richard a while Sleeps on the feathers which himselfe had drest.

119   10.  a. Referred to as an object almost without weight, and capable of being moved with the greatest ease.

120 1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 35.        If your meete mate and you meete together, Than shall we see two men beare a fether.

121 1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., II. iii. 154. Leo. I am a Feather for each Wind that blows.

122 1728.  Pope, The Dunciad, II. 43.        With pert flat eyes she window’d well its head; A brain of feathers, and a heart of lead.

123 a. 1839.  Praed, Poems (1864), I. 232, ‘To ——,’ iv.        I know that Folly’s breath is weak   And would not stir a feather; But yet I would not have her speak   Your name and mine together.

124 1843.  Hood, Forge, II. xvi.        Like timid lamb, and ewe, and wether,         And as females say,         In a similar way, Fit for knocking down with a feather.

125 1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., vii. She felt the weight of her boy as if it had been a feather.

126 1872.  Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxii. 307. Tita, who weighs about a feather and a half.

127   b.  Hence: Anything of little strength or importance; a very small amount, a trifle. † (To be pleased) to a feather: to a nicety.

128 1601.  Shaks., All’s Well that ends Well, V. iii. 232. You boggle shrewdly, euery feather starts you.

129 1659.  Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 376. They must be pleased to a feather.

130 1675.  Traherne, Chr. Ethics, xxv. 390. A straw and a feather shall forfeit all the Obligations in the World, in some Tempers.

131 a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Titter, to Laugh at a Feather.

132 1794.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), IV. 112. Rising at a feather against our friends.

133   c.  = FEATHER-WEIGHT. To ride a feather: see quot. 1823.

134 1760.  Heber, Horse Matches, ix. 20. Mr. Turner’s bay … 5 years old, carrying a feather.

135 1822.  Examiner, 232/2. Dr. Ph-ll-m-re, very light, a feather, took the field on his new rat-tail mare.

136 1823.  ‘J. Bee,’ Dict. Turf, etc. Boys under six stone are said to ‘ride a feather.’

137   III.  Something resembling a feather.

138   11.  a. On human beings: A tuft or ridge of hair standing more or less upright. b. On horses: (see quot. 1803).

139   a.  c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 301. Arthur & Bawdwin rose, & shoke theyr eares to put awaye the fethers fro their heyre.

140 1580.  Baret, Alv., F 320. Feather … the curled bush of frizled haire (wherewith lustie gallants of late would seeme to counterfeit this iollie feather).

141 1841.  S. Warren, Ten Thousand a Year, II. v. 114. ‘What’s a feather?’ quoth Titmouse, rather faintly. ‘You see, sir, ’tis when a small lot of hair on a gent’s head will stick up, do all we can to try and get it down.’

142 1851.  Blackw. Mag., June, 680. He wore his hair cropped close, except just in front, where it formed what the hair-dresser called a feather.

143   b.  1580.  Blundevil, Art of Riding, I. ii. 2. The horse that hath an Ostriche fether eyther on his forheade, on both sides of his maine, or on the one side, or els behinde on his buttockes, or in anye place where he himselfe can not see it, can neuer be euill horse.

144 1598.  Florio, Circhiello, that which is called a feather in a horse.

145 1617.  Markham, Cavelarice, II. 6. Euery horse … hath a feather in his fore-head.

146 1682.  Lond. Gaz., No. 1692/4. A light Grey Nag … a Feather in the … Neck.

147 1737.  H. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 7. Feathers, or different Turnings of the Hair, in several parts of a Horse’s body.

148 1803.  W. Taplin, Sport. Dict., 248. Feather. The Centrical division, and different directions, of the surrounding hair in a horse’s forehead is so called: they are also frequently seen upon the neck … the mane, and … the hind quarters, and are considered natural ornaments.

149   12.  A blemish or flaw having a feather-like appearance: a. in the eye; b. in a precious stone.

150 1847.  Lever, Knt. of Gwynne, xxxix. 335. He had only one [eye], there was a feather on the other.

151 1866.  Miss Braddon, Lady’s Mile, 190. She had learned to discover a ‘feather’ in a fifty-guinea emerald ring. Ibid. (1879), Vixen, III. 293. I don’t think there is a feather in one of the stones.

152   13.  Confectionery. One of the degrees in boiling sugar. Also The great, little feather: see quots. Cf. Fr. à la (grande, petite) plume.

153 1827.  Jarrin, Italian Confectioner (ed. 3), 3. Confectioners … have seven essential … bases of their art … 4. La plume, the feather. Ibid., 4. The larger and greater quantity of bubbles, when blown through the skimmer, are the large feather. Ibid., 9. Boil to the feather some of the same clarified sugar. Ibid., 60. Clarify a pound of loaf sugar, boil it to the large feather. Ibid. (1829), 177. Take a pound of clarified sugar, boil to the little feather.

154 1883.  Workshop Receipts, Ser. II. 152. For the ‘feather,’ dip the skimmer again into the sugar, and blow through the holes as before.

155   † 14.  Swedish feather: see quot. Obs.

156 1652.  Urquhart, Jewel, Wks. (1834), 243. After the fasion of those staves with iron pikes at both ends, commonly called Swedish feathers, when stuck into the ground to fence musketeers from the charge of horse.

157   15.  In various phrases: (To wear) the Bull’s feather: see BULL 11 b. Naut. To cut a feather: see CUT v. 37 b. In quot. fig. To move briskly.

158 1684.  T. Goddard, Plato’s Demon, 317. Men who … have not the skill to cut a feather, very often dance themselves into that noose.

159 1822.  Scott, Pirate, xxxiv. He shambles about … as well as ever he did—for Jack could never cut a feather.

160   16.  In various technical uses.

161   a.  A longitudinal rib added to a shaft, etc. to increase its strength.

162 1823.  Buchanan, Millwork, 263. Apply the feathers merely to prevent bending in the middle.

163 1839.  R. S. Robinson, Naut. Steam Eng., 63. z, is a strengthening feather, under the crank frame. Ibid., 65. From the eye run six strong arched radii or feathers, terminating in a ledge, on which the lifting valve is to rest.

164 1842–76.  Gwilt, Encycl. Archit., § 1629 d. Transverse ribs or feathers on cast iron beams are to be avoided.

165   b.  Mining and Quarrying. (see quot.)

166 1865.  J. T. F. Turner, Slate Quarries, 13. A hole is jumped in the block [of slate] near the edge; in this, two slightly curved pieces of iron are placed (the ‘feathers’), having the concave surfaces toward each other, between them is inserted an iron punch; this is forcibly hammered in, and breaks the stone asunder.

167 1883.  Gresley, Gloss. Terms Coal-Mining, Feathers. [Describes a similar contrivance in coal mines.]

168   c.  A projection on a board, implement, or piece of machinery; esp. one intended to fit into some other part. Cf. FIN.

169 1765.  A. Dickson, Treat. Agric. (ed. 2), 212. The firm earth which the common sock leaves to be opened by the wrest, is opened by the feather of the other sock, which is done more easily.

170 1874.  Knight, Dict. Mech., I. 828/1. Feather. 1. A slip inserted longitudinally into a shaft or arbor, and projecting as a fin therefrom so as to fit a groove. 3. A wedge-shaped key between two semi-cylindrical plugs placed in a bored hole in a stone, and driven in to rend the stone. 3. A tongue on the edge of a board.

171 1884.  F. J. Britten, The Watch and Clockmakers’ Handbook, 237. There is a feather in the straight part of the mandrel hole.

172   d.  Salt-works. (see quot.)

173 1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Mid-Feather, in the English salt-works, the name given to a sort of partition placed in the middle of the furnace…. This partition divides the body of the furnace into two chambers.

174   e.  dial. ‘A linch-pin; a pin used to keep machinery tight’ (N. W. Linc. Gloss., 1877).

175   IV.  [Properly a distinct word: f. the vb.]

176   17.  Rowing. The action of feathering. See FEATHER v. 11.

177 1865.  Pall Mall G., 16 May, 10. Oxford and Cambridge styles used to be palpably different to the eye by the height of the feather.

178 1884.  St. James’s Gaz., 28 March, 6/2. The feather was cleaner than that of Cambridge.

179 1885.  Manch. Guard., 28 March, 6/6. The feather is exquisitely even, and this is the best point in their rowing.

180   V.  attrib. and Comb.

181   18.  General combinations: a. simple attrib., as feather-bolster, -brush, -embroidery, -fan, -flower, -guise, -merchant, -pattern, -plume, -tract. b. objective, as feather-beater, -cleanser, -dresser, -drier, -finisher, -seller; feather-bearing adj. c. instrumental, as feather-cinctured, -clouded, -tasselled adjs. d. parasynthetic and similative, as feather-legged, -light, -like, -nerved, -tailed, -thick, -veined, -white adjs.; feather-wise adv.

182 c. 1050.  Glosses, in Wr.-Wülcker, 465. Penniger, *feþerberend.

183 1881.  St. George Jackson Mivart, The Cat, 377. They are also developed from that side of the foot which corresponds with the feather-bearing side of the hand.

184 1855.  H. Clarke, Dict., *Feather-beater, feather cleanser.

185 1553.  in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, III. 573/4. *Feather bolster 5/-.

186 1856.  W. Collins, After Dark, Yellow Mask, III. v. He was dusting his favourite busts and statues, after a long absence, with a *feather-brush when she came in.

187 1757.  Gray, Progress of Poesy, II. ii. Their *feather-cinctur’d Chief, and dusky Loves.

188 1829.  Gen. P. Thompson, in Westm. Rev., XI. 229. Some feather-cinctured sage.

189 1605.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iii. IV., The Captains, 746.          Thence thirty steps a chief commander prest, And prowdly wags his *feather-clouded Crest.

190 1647.  Haward, Crown Rev., 26. *Feather-dresser: Fee—13.6.8.

191 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Feather-dresser, a cleaner or preparer of feathers. Ibid. *feather-drier, Feather-beater, one who beats feathers, to cleanse and make them light or loose.

192 1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 299. Beautiful mantles of the plumaje, or *feather embroidery.

193 1864.  Tennyson, Aylmer’s F., 289. Cooling her false cheek with a *feather-fan.

194 1886.  Besant, Children of Gibeon, II. vi. Two-storied houses inhabited by cobblers, repairers of umbrellas, sign-writers, *feather-finishers, and the like.

195 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Feather-flowers, artificial flowers made of feathers, which are used by ladies for head ornaments and for fancy plumes and groups for rooms.

196 1889.  R. B. Anderson, trans. Rydberg’s Teut. Myth., 60. In the Norse mythology several godesses or dises have, as we know, *feather-guises, with which they fly through space.

197 1872–4.  L. Wright, Poultry, xi. 129. The chickens were *feather-legged.

198 c. 1837.  Hood, Ode to My Son, i.        Thou merry laughing sprite! With spirits *feather-light.

199 1776.  Withering, Bot. Arrangem. Vegetables, 680. Little *feather-like shoots rising single from the base of the leaves.

200 1810.  T. Thomson, A System of Chemistry (ed. 4), II. 292. Nineteen of these [grains] are deposited, when the water cools in long, slender, flat, feather-like crystals.

201 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Feather-merchant, an importer or wholesale dealer in feathers, who sells to feather-dressers and plumassiers.

202 1840.  Paxton, Bot. Dict., *Feather-nerved, the nerves disposed like the feathers of a pen.

203 1883.  W. G. Collingwood, Philos. Ornament, iv. 85. Barbaric annulets, zigzags, *feather-patterns, are found upon early vases.

204 1885.  A. M. Clerke, Pop. Hist. Astron., 83. *Feather-plumes or aigrettes.

205 1755.  Johnson, *Featherseller, one who sells feathers for beds.

206 1883.  F. M. Crawford, Mr. Isaacs, ii. Small head, small feet, and *feather-tailed.

207 1883.  M. Betham-Edwards, Pearla, v., Good Words, XXIV. 113/2. Gorgeous articles of native dress *feather-tasseled, shell-fringed, coral-beaded.

208 1884.  Browning, Ferishtah (1885), 119.                    Do I dare feel warmth And please my palate here with Persia’s vine, Though, over-mounts,—to trust the traveller,— Snow, *feather-thick, is falling while I feast?

209 1878.  Bell, Gegenbauer’s Comp. Anat., 419. The arrangement also of these first rudiments of the feathers in definite areas (*feather-tracts, pterylia) is much the same as that of the scales in Reptiles.

210 1861.  Bentley, Manual Bot., 152. *Feather-veined … In these the midrib gives off lateral veins which proceed at once to the margins and are connected by numerous branching veinlets.

211 1876.  H. Balfour, in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 9), IV. 110, ‘Botany.’ Veins going directly to the margin and forming feather-veined leaves (Oak and Chestnut).

212 1883.  W. C. Russell, Sailor’s Lang., Feather-white sea.—Said of the sea when covered with foam.

213 1600.  Holland, Livy, X. xxix. (1609), 373 b. Opposing their targuets before them, raunged and joined one over another *featherwise, so, as to deale with them afront, and to cope together at hand strokes.

214   19.  Special comb.: feather-alum, see ALUM 4; feather-bird dial., the Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea); feather-boarding, a covering of boards which thin off towards the lower edge, and overlap like a bird’s feathers; feather-bog, a quagmire, dial. (Halliwell, 1847); feather-brain, a person with a light or weak brain, whence feather-brained a., foolish, giddy; feather-cling, Sc., a disease among cattle; feather-cloth (see quot.); † feather-cock, a coxcomb; † feather-driver, (a) = QUILL-DRIVER, (b) ‘one who cleanses feathers by whisking them about’ (J.); feather-duster, a brush made of feathers, used for dusting; feather-eyed, ? having a ‘feather’ (12 a) in one’s eye; feather-foot, a foot as light as a feather, in quot. fig.; † feather-glory nonce-wd., light and transitory glory; feather-heeled a. = FEATHER-FOOTED; feather-joint (see quot.); † feather-lock, Sc., a spring-lock; feather-mail, the dress of feathers resembling a coat of mail worn by the Indians of Mexico, prior to the Spanish conquest; feather-monger, one who deals in feathers, also transf. of a bird; feather-mosaic, patterns worked in feathers; feather-ore Min. (see quot. 1863); feather-painting, the art of using feathers of various colors in place of pigments; feather-pated a. = FEATHER-HEADED; † feather-peeper, ? tips of feathers decorating a headdress; feather-pie (see quot.); feather-poke, (a) a bag of feathers, (b) applied to the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the Long-tailed Titmouse (Acredula rosea), and the Wren (Motacilla troglodytes), perhaps from the appearance of their nests; feather-process (see quot.); feather-pulp, the pulp or matrix from which the feather is formed; feather-shot copper (see quot.); feather-spray (see quot.); feather-spring, the spring in a gun-lock which causes the sear, which holds the hammer at full or half cock, to catch in the notch of the tumbler; † feather-staff, a light kind of halbert; feather-star, a star-fish (Comatula rosacea); feather-stick, a stick covered with feathers; feather-top, nickname of a parrot (also attrib. = next); feather-topped a., (of a wig) frizzed at the top (see FEATHER sb. 11); feather-tuft, an edible mushroom, Clavaria cristata (Hay, Brit. Fungi (1887), 234); † feather-wife, a woman whose duty it was to prepare feathers for use; † feather-worker, one who prepares feathers. Also FEATHER-BED, FEATHER-EDGE, FEATHER-FOOTED a., etc.

215 a. 1693.  Urquhart, Rabelais, III. lii. 425. Do not here instance in competition with this Sacred Herb the *Feather Allum.

216 1863–72.  Watts, Dict. Chem., II. 617. Feather-alum, a name applied to native hydrated sulphate of aluminium … and to native iron-alum or halotrichite … both of which occur in delicate fibrous crystals or masses.

217 1885.  Swainson, Prov. Names Brit. Birds, 23. *Feather bird.

218 1846.  Worcester (citing Loudon), *Feather-boarding.

219 1839.  Carlyle, Chartism, x. 181. Poor palpitating *featherbrain.

220 1820.  Scott, Monast., xvi. Such a *feather-brained coxcomb as this.

221 1841.  Emerson, Lect., Conservative, Wks. (Bohn), II. 269. Your opposition is feather-brained and over-fine.

222 1799.  Highland Soc. Ess. II. 218. *Feather Cling … is occasioned by want of water in very dry summers or in the hard frosts of winters.

223 1882.  Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, *Feather Cloth.—A mixture of cloth and feathers woven together, the cloth being undyed, and produced in drabs and greys.

224 1612.  trans. Benvenuto’s Passenger, 19. Thou wouldest make me one of Diomedes, or Antiphanes scholler, in imitating of these Ganimedes, finicall, spruce-ones, muskats, syrenists, *feathercockes, vaineglorious, a cage for Crickits, fickle-braines, adle-sconces, sing-sonnets, and chimerists.

225 1593.  Nashe, Four Lett. Confut., K 1 b. The onely *feather-driuer of phrases and putter of a good word to it when thou hast once got it.

226 1713.  Derham, Phys. Theol., VI. vii. 152, note. A Feather-Driver who had these Bladders filled with the fine Dust or Down of Feathers.

227 1858.  Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Feather-duster, a light brush made of feathers.

228 c. 1600.  Day, Begg. Bednall Gr., II. ii. So *feather-ey’d ye cannot let us passe in the kings high way?

229 1821.  Clare, The Village Minstrel, and Other Poems, I. 209. Solitude.        And the breeze, with *feather-feet, Crimping o’er the waters sweet, Trembling fans the sun-tann’d cheek, And gives the comfort one would seek.

230 a. 1626.  Bp. Andrewes, Serm. (1856), I. 31. Glory, not like ours here *feather-glory.

231 16[?].  Songs Lond. ’Prentices, Michaelmas Term (Percy Soc.), 66. The *Feather-heel’d wenches that live by their owne.

232 1840.  Hood, Up the Rhine, 100. The wit of the Germans is not feather-heeled; their humour is somewhat sedate.

233 1874.  Knight, Dict. Mech., *Feather-joint. A mode of joining the edges of boards by a fin or feather let into opposite mortises on the edges of the boards.

234 1478.  Act. Audit., 82. That Schir Jhone … pay for … a *fethir lok xviii d.

235 1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 363. The like colours on the *feather-mail of the Indians, showed that they were the warriors of Xicotencatl.

236 1599.  Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 51. Some fowler with his nets, as this host of *fether mungers were getting up to ride double, inuolued or intangled them.

237 1767.  S. Paterson, Another Traveller! II. 147. ‘Het lust me!—It delights me!’ says the open-hearted feather-monger—‘and I am proud to have enriched some of the best doveries in Europe!’

238 1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 153. The arts of working in metals, jewelry, and *feather-mosaic.

239 1767.  Seiferth, trans. Gellert’s Metal. Chem., 41. *Feather ore consists of the smallest capillary-like feathers.

240 1863–72.  Watts, Dict. Chem., II. 617. Feather ore, this name is applied to the capillary form of native sulphantimonite of lead.

241 1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 123. Count Carli is in raptures with a specimen of *feather-painting which he saw in Strasbourg.

242 1820.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxiv. ‘Nay, say rather the *feather-pated giddy madmen,’ said Waldemar, ‘who must be toying with follies when such business was in hand.’

243 1757.  Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), III. 467. Madame Godineau in a round card cap of black lace … it was a pity *‘feather-peepers’ were not added to the cap.

244 a. 1825.  Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, *Feather-pie, a hole in the ground, filled with feathers fixed on strings, and kept in motion by the wind. An excellent device to scare birds.

245 1559.  Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees), 170. Two *feder poks, two payre of harne sheits, two couerletts.

246 1837.  Bywater, Sheffield Dial. (1877), 193. It’s just loik thrustin yer hand up tot rist into a feather poke nest.

247 1877.  N. W. Linc. Gloss., When it snows we say ‘th’ owd woman is shackin’ her feather-poke.’

248 1885.  Swainson, Prov. Names Brit. Birds, 26. Willow warbler … Feather poke. Ibid., 32. British Long-tailed Titmouse … Feather poke.

249 1888.  Sheffield Gloss., Feather poke, the wren.

250 1878.  Bell, Gegenbauer’s Comp. Anat., 419. The first sign of the feather is the growth of the knobs into papilliform processes (*feather processes), which are made up of an outer epidermal layer, and a subjacent papilla.

251 1859.  R. B. Todd, The Cyclopædia of Anatomy and Physiology, V. 480/1. On the surface of the *feather-pulp a series of ridges are developed.

252 1869.  Eng. Mech., 31 Dec., 388/1. Bean … and *feather shot copper [is made] by pouring [melted copper] into cold water.

253 1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., *Feather spray, such as is observed at the cutwater of fast steamers, forming a pair of wing feathers.

254 1807.  Sporting Mag., XXIX. Jan., 207/1. It has been stated that Mr. Meredith’s pistol had gone off by accident; but this could not happen, as Mr. Meredith’s pistol had no *feather spring.

255 1833.  Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 95. The Recruit … is to take it … near the lock, his little finger touching the feather-spring.

256 1622.  F. Markham, Bk. War, IV. iv. 135. The only weapons for a Captaine, are a faire *Feather-staffe in the time of Peace or for glory in a Garrison.

257 1862.  Ansted, Channel Isl., II. ix. (ed. 2), 237. The *feather-star (Comatula rosacea), represents the crinoids.

258 1824.  Burchell, Trav., II. 579. The *feather-stick often renders the natives important service.

259 1891.  Scott. Leader, 24 Oct., 4. The antique *feather-top screamed the same phrases twelve months ago at Mr. Colston.

260 1785.  Mrs. Bennet, Juv. Indiscretions (1786), I. 185. His nice *feather-top-wig.

261 1774.  Foote, Cozeners, I. Wks. 1799, II. 158. His dear wig … white as a curd, *feather-topped, and the curls as close as a cauliflower.

262 1788.  V. Knox, Winter Even., III. VII. i. 4. Divest them of their feather-topt wigs, their gowns and cassocks.

263 1867.  Lady Llanover, Good Cookery, 53. As soon as the feathers were dry, they were taken away by the *featherwife.

264 1552.  Huloet, *Fetherworcker, plumarius.

265   b.  In various plant-names as Feather-bow = FEVERFEW; Feather-Columbine (see quot. 1878–86); Feather-fern (see quot. 1882); Feather-foil, the water violet (Hottonia palustris); Feather-grass, a perennial feathery grass (Stipa pennata); Feather-moss, the name of a genus (Hypnum) of British mosses; Feather-top, Wild Campion (see quot. 1597); Feather-top grass (see quot. 1878–86).

266 1880.  E. Cornwall Gloss., *Feather bow, fever few, Matricaria parthenium.

267 1878–86.  Britten & Holland, Plant-n., *Feather … Columbine … A frequent book-name for Thalictrum aquilegifolium L. an old-fashioned garden plant.

268 1882.  Friend, Devon. Plant-n., *Feather Fern, Spiræa Japonica, L.

269 1776.  Withering, Bot. Arrangem. Vegetables, 115. *Featherfoil.

270 1861.  Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., IV. 219. Common Water-Violet, or Featherfoil.

271 1875.  Anderida, I. viii. 155. His paddle was encumbered with duck-weed, or hung in the stems of water-crowfoot and featherfoil.

272 1776.  Withering, Bot. Arrangem. Vegetables, 44 *Feathergrass.

273 1861.  Miss Pratt, Flower. Pl., VI. 66. Order Graminæa … (Common Feather-grass).

274 1776.  Withering, Bot. Arrangem. Vegetables, 680 *Feathermoss, Hypnum.

275 1854.  Stark, Brit. Mosses, 228. Hypnum Trichomanoides … (Blunt Fern-like Feather Moss). Ibid., 229. Hypnum Complanatum … (Flat Feather Moss).

276 1597.  Gerard, Herball, I. vi. § 2. 8. In English a Bent, or *Feather-top grasse. Ibid., II. cxxi. § 9. 385. Lychnis Plumaria, *Fethertop wilde Campion.

277 1678.  Littleton, Lat. Dict., s.v. Princes, Feather-top grass. Gramen tomentosum arundinaceum.

278 1878–86.  Britten & Holland, Plant-n. Feathertop Grass, Calamagrostis Epigejos.

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