feathers

3 definitions • 3 examples

one of the many soft, light things that cover a bird's body, consisting of a long, thin, central part with material like hairs along each side:

peacock/ostrich feathers

feather pillow I like to sleep on a firm mattress with feather pillows (= those containing feathers).

ruffle its feathers The bird ruffled its feathers.

to turn oars (= poles with flat ends used to move a boat) so that the flat parts are horizontal above the water while you prepare for the next pull

one of the long, light objects that cover a bird’s body, having soft fibers along each side of a thin, stiff, central stem