feathers

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
feather/ˈfeðə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 any of the flat appendages growing from a bird's skin, consisting of a partly hollow horny shaft fringed with vanes of barbs.

• 2 (feathers) a fringe of long hair on the legs of a dog, horse, or other animal.

▶verb

• 1 rotate the blades of (a propeller) about their own axes in such a way as to lessen the air or water resistance.

  ■ Rowing turn (an oar) so that it passes through the air edgeways.

• 2 (as adj. feathered) covered or decorated with feathers.

• 3 float or move like a feather.

– phrases
a feather in one's cap an achievement to be proud of.
feather one's (own) nest make money selfishly or opportunistically.

– derivatives
featheriness noun,
featherless adjective,
feathery adjective.

– origin OE fether, of Gmc origin.