Definition of feather

• n. - One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down.
• n. - Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, "Birds of a feather," that is, of the same species.
• n. - The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other dogs.
• n. - A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse.
• n. - One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow.
• n. - A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline.
• n. - A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone.
• n. - The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water.
• v. t. - To furnish with a feather or feathers, as an arrow or a cap.
• v. t. - To adorn, as with feathers; to fringe.
• v. t. - To render light as a feather; to give wings to.
• v. t. - To enrich; to exalt; to benefit.
• v. t. - To tread, as a cock.
• v. i. - To grow or form feathers; to become feathered; -- often with out; as, the birds are feathering out.
• v. i. - To curdle when poured into another liquid, and float about in little flakes or "feathers;" as, the cream feathers
• v. i. - To turn to a horizontal plane; -- said of oars.
• v. i. - To have the appearance of a feather or of feathers; to be or to appear in feathery form.