feathers
Down and quills
Feathers are the light, flat structures that cover birds' bodies, providing insulation, enabling flight, and displaying colors for mating or camouflage.
Each feather consists of a central shaft with soft barbs branching off.
The word extends to similar structures: feathers on arrows stabilize flight, and to feather oars is to turn them flat between strokes.
If you ruffle someone's feathers, you irritate them.
A feather in your cap is an achievement worth noting.
To feather your nest is to enrich yourself, often through dubious means.
Physics of air motion
- glideMove with effortless continuity
- soarAscend to heights
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- airfoilLift-generating curved surface
streamlined · lightweight · hollow · wing · flap · hover · buoyancy · air resistance
Bird's complete feather coat
- downToward lower ground
- moltShed outer covering
- preenGroom with self-satisfaction
- covertsConcealing undergrowth or plumage
contour · pinfeather · crest · tail · breast · wing · barbs · shaft
Heat you feel
- downToward lower ground
- duvetFilled bed covering
- comforterQuilted bed covering
- pufferFish that expands when threatened
jacket · pillow · bedding · lining · padding · thermal · nesting · eiderdown
Ornamental head covering
- plumeOrnamental feather or rising column
- boaSqueeze-killer or neckwear
- fascinatorOrnamental clip-on millinery
- millineryCraft of hat design
costume · masquerade · carnival · regalia · ceremonial · adornment · decoration · Native American
Yielding to touch
- fluffySoft and light-textured
- downyHaving soft, fine texture
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
silky · wispy · airy · gossamer · ticklish · brushy · fine · smooth
Ink-filled writing tool
- inkwellContainer for dipping pens
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- scribeManual document copier
penmanship · parchment · vellum · nib · writing · script · dip · scroll
Pleated fabric edging
- featherweightBoxing class under 126
- unruffledEmotionally undisturbed, placid
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
aerodynamics
Physics of air motion
airfoil · streamlined · lightweight · hollow · wing · flap · hover · buoyancy · air resistance · thrust
plumage
Bird's complete feather coat
coverts · contour · pinfeather · crest · tail · breast · wing · barbs · shaft · vane
warmth
Heat you feel
puffer · jacket · pillow · bedding · lining · padding · thermal · nesting · eiderdown · tog
headdress
Ornamental head covering
- plumeOrnamental feather or rising column
- boaSqueeze-killer or neckwear
- fascinatorOrnamental clip-on millinery
millinery · costume · masquerade · carnival · regalia · ceremonial · adornment · decoration · Native American · quetzal
soft
Yielding to touch
light · silky · wispy · airy · gossamer · ticklish · brushy · fine · smooth
pen
Ink-filled writing tool
- inkwellContainer for dipping pens
- calligraphyOrnamental handwriting art
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
scribe · penmanship · parchment · vellum · nib · writing · script · dip · scroll · lettering
ruffle
Pleated fabric edging
- featherweightBoxing class under 126
- unruffledEmotionally undisturbed, placid
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
- animal adaptationscamouflage, webbed feet, filter feeding, thick fur, blubber
- feathersplume, quill, rachis, down, vane
- animal featuresbeaks, scales, antlers, fur, ears
- animal traitsfur, tail, claws, teeth, wings
- bird neststwigs, nest, sticks, aerie, grass
- cold protectioninsulation, fur, blubber, down, fat layer
feathersthorns
Sharp plant projections
spikes · sandpaper · steel wool · rough bark · gravel
- light as a featherNearly without mass
- birds of a featherThose with shared characteristics
- feather dusterPlumed cleaning implement
- as light as a featherExtremely light, negligible weight
- ruffle some feathersCause mild irritation
- feather boasDecorative plumage accessories
feather, feathery, feathered, feathering, featherless, feather boa, featherbed, featherbeds, featherwork