feathering.html - See: BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER, TAR AND FEATHER, FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS, FUSS AND FEATHERS, MAKE THE FEATHERS FLY, RUFFLE FEATHERS.

feathering.html - {n. phr.} Something to be proud of; an honor. * /It was a feather in his cap to win first prize./ (From the medieval practice of placing a feather in the helmet of one who won honors in battle.)

feathering.html - {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To use for yourself money and power, especially from a public office or job in which you are trusted to help other people. * /The rich man told his lawyer to use his money after he died to build a hospital for poor people, but the lawyer feathered his own nest with the money instead./ * /The man feathered his nest in politics by getting money from contractors who built roads./ Syn.: LINE ONE'S POCKETS. 2. To make your home pleasant and comfortable; furnish and decorate your house. * /Furniture stores welcome young couples who want to feather their nests./

feathering.html - n. & v.
--n.

1 any of the appendages growing from a bird's skin, with a horny hollow stem and fine strands.
2 one or more of these as decoration etc.
3 (collect.) a plumage. b game-birds.

--v.

1 tr. cover or line with feathers.
2 tr. Rowing turn (an oar) so that it passes through the air edgeways.
3 tr. Aeron. & Naut. a cause (the propeller blades) to rotate in such a way as to lessen the air or water resistance. b vary the angle of incidence of (helicopter blades).
4 intr. float, move, or wave like feathers.

feather bed a bed with a mattress stuffed with feathers. feather-bed v.tr. (-bedded, -bedding) provide with (esp. financial) advantages. feather-bedding the employment of excess staff. feather-brain (or -head) a silly or absent-minded person. feather-brained (or -headed) silly, absent-minded. feather-edge the fine edge of a wedge-shaped board. a feather in one's cap an achievement to one's credit. feather one's nest enrich oneself. feather-stitch ornamental zigzag sewing. in fine (or high) feather colloq. in good spirits.

feathered adj. (also in comb.). featherless adj. feathery adj. featheriness n. [OE fether, gefithrian, f. Gmc]

feathering.html - n.
1 bird's plumage.
2 the feathers of an arrow.
3 a feather-like structure in an animal's coat.
4 Archit. cusps in tracery.

feathering.html - n.
1 a a weight in certain sports intermediate between bantamweight and lightweight, in the amateur boxing scale 54-7kg but differing for professionals, wrestlers, and weightlifters. b a sportsman of this weight.
2 a very light person or thing.
3 (usu. attrib.) a trifling or unimportant thing.