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feather
(redirected from feathers nest)

   Also found in: Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.04 sec.
feath·er  (fr)
n.
1. One of the light, flat growths forming the plumage of birds, consisting of numerous slender, closely arranged parallel barbs forming a vane on either side of a horny, tapering, partly hollow shaft.
2. feathers Plumage.
3. feathers Clothing; attire.
4. A feathery tuft or fringe of hair, as on the legs or tail of some dogs.
5. Character, kind, or nature: Birds of a feather flock together.
6. Something small, trivial, or inconsequential.
7.
a. A strip, wedge, or flange used as a strengthening part.
b. A wedge or key that fits into a groove to make a joint.
8. The vane of an arrow.
9. A feather-shaped flaw, as in a precious stone.
10. The wake made by a submarine's periscope.
11. The act of feathering the blade of an oar in rowing.
v. feath·ered, feath·er·ing, feath·ers
v.tr.
1. To cover, dress, or decorate with or as if with feathers.
2. To fit (an arrow) with a feather.
3.
a. To thin, reduce, or fringe the edge of by cutting, shaving, or wearing away.
b. To shorten and taper (hair) by cutting and thinning.
4. To connect with a tongue-and-groove joint.
5. To turn (an oar blade) almost horizontal as it is carried back after each stroke.
6.
a. To alter the pitch of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are parallel with the line of flight.
b. To alter the pitch of (the rotor of a helicoptor) while in forward flight.
7. To turn off (an aircraft engine) while in flight.
v.intr.
1. To grow feathers or become feathered.
2. To move, spread, or grow in a manner suggestive of feathers.
3. To feather an oar.
4. To feather a propeller.
Idioms:
feather in (one's) cap
An act or deed to one's credit; a distinctive achievement.
feather (one's) nest
To grow wealthy by taking advantage of one's position or by making use of property or funds left in one's trust.
in fine/good/high feather
In excellent form, health, or humor.

[Middle English fether, from Old English; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]
click for a larger image
feather
typical flight feather (left) and a magnified view of vanes (right)

feather [ˈfɛðə]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) any of the flat light waterproof epidermal structures forming the plumage of birds, each consisting of a hollow shaft having a vane of barbs on either side. They are essential for flight and help maintain body temperature
2. something resembling a feather, such as a tuft of hair or grass
3. (Individual Sports & Recreations / Archery) Archery
a.  a bird's feather or artificial substitute fitted to an arrow to direct its flight
b.  the feathered end of an arrow, opposite the head
4. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a strip, spline, or tongue of wood fitted into a groove
5. (Transport / Nautical Terms) the wake created on the surface of the water by the raised periscope of a submarine
6. (Team Sports / Rowing) Rowing the position of an oar turned parallel to the water between strokes Compare square [8]
7. (Performing Arts / Dancing) a step in ballroom dancing in which a couple maintain the conventional hold but dance side by side
8. condition of spirits; fettle in fine feather
9. something of negligible value; jot I don't care a feather
birds of a feather people of the same type, character, or interests
feather in one's cap a cause for pleasure at one's achievements your promotion is a feather in your cap
not take or knock a feather out of (someone) Irish to fail to upset or injure (someone) it didn't take a feather out of him
vb
1. (tr) to fit, cover, or supply with feathers
2. (Team Sports / Rowing) Rowing to turn (an oar) parallel to the water during recovery between strokes, principally in order to lessen wind resistance Compare square [41]
3. (Team Sports / Rowing) (in canoeing) to turn (a paddle) parallel to the direction of the canoe between strokes, while keeping it in the water, principally in order to move silently
4. (Engineering / Aeronautics) to change the pitch of (an aircraft propeller) so that the chord lines of the blades are in line with the airflow
5. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) (tr) to join (two boards) by means of a tongue-and-groove joint
6. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (intr) (of a bird) to grow feathers
7. (intr) to move or grow like feathers
feather one's nest to provide oneself with comforts, esp financial See also feathers
[Old English fether; related to Old Frisian fethere, Old Norse fjöthr feather, Old High German fedara wing, Greek petesthai to fly, Sanskrit patati he flies]
featherless  adj
feather-like  adj
feathery  adj

feather  (fthr)
One of the light, flat structures that cover the skin of birds. A feather is made of a horny substance and has a narrow, hollow shaft bearing flat vanes formed of many parallel barbs. The barbs of outer feathers are formed of even smaller structures (called barbules) that interlock. The barbs of down feathers do not interlock. Evolutionarily, feathers are modified scales, first seen in certain dinosaurs.
click for a larger image
feather
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.featherfeather - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
down, down feather - soft fine feathers
aftershaft - a supplementary feather (usually small) on the underside of the base of the shaft of some feathers in some birds
contour feather - feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape
bastard wing, spurious wing, alula - tuft of small stiff feathers on the first digit of a bird's wing
marabou - the downy feathers of marabou storks are used for trimming garments
web, vane - the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft
hackle - long slender feather on the necks of e.g. turkeys and pheasants
quill, calamus, shaft - the hollow spine of a feather
flight feather, quill feather, pinion, quill - any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird
scapular - a feather covering the shoulder of a bird
body covering - any covering for the body or a body part
ceratin, keratin - a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair, feathers, nails, and hooves
animal material - material derived from animals
melanin - insoluble pigments that account for the color of e.g. skin and scales and feathers
2.feather - turning an oar parallel to the water between pulls
rotary motion, rotation - the act of rotating as if on an axis; "the rotation of the dancer kept time with the music"
rowing, row - the act of rowing as a sport
Verb1.feather - join tongue and groove, in carpentry
conjoin, join - make contact or come together; "The two roads join here"
2.feather - cover or fit with feathers
cover - provide with a covering or cause to be covered; "cover her face with a handkerchief"; "cover the child with a blanket"; "cover the grave with flowers"
3.feather - turn the paddle; in canoeing
paddle - propel with a paddle; "paddle your own canoe"
4.feather - turn the oar, while rowing
row - propel with oars; "row the boat across the lake"
5.feather - grow feathers; "The young sparrows are fledging already"
acquire, develop, produce, grow, get - come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes); "He grew a beard"; "The patient developed abdominal pains"; "I got funny spots all over my body"; "Well-developed breasts"

feather
noun
plume a purple hat with a green feather
plural noun
plumage, plumes, down black ostrich feathers
a feather in your cap achievement, success, accomplishment It was a feather in his cap to be at a good college.
Related words
fear pteronophobia
Translations
feather [ˈfeðəʳ]
A. Npluma f
in fine feather (o.f.) → de excelente humor
that is a feather in his capes un tanto que se apunta
you could have knocked me down with a featherme quedé de piedra
as light as a feather(tan)ligero como una pluma
see also white C
B. VT
1.emplumar
to feather one's nesthacer su agosto
2. (Rowing) [+ oar] → volver horizontal
C. CPD [mattress, pillow] → de plumas
feather bed Ncolchón m de pluma(s)
feather duster Nplumero m

feather [ˈfɛðər]
nplume f
ostrich feather → plume f d'autruche
tail feather → plume f rectrice
as light as a feather → léger comme une plume
a feather in sb's cap (= something to be proud of) → un bon point pour qn
see also bird, ruffle
vt
to feather one's nest (fig)faire sa pelote
modif [bed, pillow] → de plumes
feather boa n
see boa
feather duster nplumeau m

feather
nFeder f; feathers (= plumage)Gefieder nt; feather headdressKopfschmuck maus Federn; as light as a featherfederleicht; that’s a feather in his capdas ist ein Ruhmesblatt ntfür ihn; you could have knocked me down with a feather (inf)ich war wie vom Donner gerührt; that’ll make the feathers flydas wird die Gemüter bewegen; they are birds of a feathersie sind vom gleichen Schlag; birds of a feather stick or flock together (Prov) → Gleich und Gleich gesellt sich gern (Prov) ? white feather
vt
arrow etcmit Federn versehen; to feather one’s nest (fig)sein Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen
(Aviat) propellerauf Segelstellung bringen
(Rowing) oarflach drehen
vi (Rowing) → das Ruderblatt flach drehen

feather:
feather bed
featherbed
vt (fig) personverhätscheln; (Ind, with grants) → verhätscheln; (by overmanning) → unnötige Arbeitskräfte zugestehen (+dat)
featherbedding
n (fig)Hätscheln nt; (with subsidies) → unnötige Subventionierung
featherbrain
nSpatzenhirn nt
featherbrained
adjdümmlich
feather cut
n (= hairstyle)Stufenschnitt m
feather duster
nStaubwedel m

feather [ˈfɛðəʳ]
1. npenna, piuma
as light as a feather → leggero/a come una piuma
that is a feather in his cap → è un fiore all'occhiello per lui
you could have knocked me down with a feather (fam) → avresti potuto farmi cadere con un soffio
2. vt to feather one's nest (fig) → arricchirsi
3. adj (mattress, bed, pillow) → di piuma

feather [ˈfɛðəʳ]
1. npenna, piuma
as light as a feather → leggero/a come una piuma
that is a feather in his cap → è un fiore all'occhiello per lui
you could have knocked me down with a feather (fam) → avresti potuto farmi cadere con un soffio
2. vt to feather one's nest (fig) → arricchirsi
3. adj (mattress, bed, pillow) → di piuma

feather
n feather [ˈfeðə]
one of the things that grow from a bird's skin that form the covering of its body They cleaned the oil off the seagull's feathers. veer ريشَه перо pero fjer die Feder φτερό, πούπουλο pluma sulg پر höyhen plume נוֹצָה पंख, पर pero, perje toll(azat) bulu fjöður piuma 羽毛 새의 깃털 plunksna spalva bulu veer fjær pióro pena pană перо pero pero perje fjäder ขนนก tüy 羽毛 перо پرندے کا پر lông vũ; lông (chim)
v
to line, cover or decorate with feathers The eagle feathers its nest with down from its own breast. veer, beveer يُزَيِّن بِالرّيش، يَكْسو بِالرّيش покривам с пера vystlat/ozdobit peřím fjerbeklæde mit Federn versehen σκεπάζω, ντύνω με φτερά emplumar sulgedega vooderdama پر زدن به چیزی vuorata höyhenillä emplumer לְרַפֶּד בְּנוֹצוֹת सजाना, संवारना nakititi (napuniti) perjem tollal bélel (fészket) melapisi búa fjöðrum guarnire di piume 羽毛でおおう 깃털을 장식하다 kloti/puošti plunksnomis izrotāt/izklāt ar spalvām melapisi met veren bedekken pynte med fjær, sette fjær i mościć acolchoar/forrar a acoperi cu pene выстилать перьями vystlať perím operiti prekriti perjem befjädra, klä (pryda) med fjädrar ประดับด้วยขนนก tüy kaplamak 用羽毛裝飾 оперяти, прикрашати пір'ям پروں سے ڈھانپنا trang hoàng bằng lông
adj feathered
geveerd, gepluim مَكْسو بِالرّيش، مُزَيَّن بالرّيش пернат opeřený fjerbeklædt gefiedert φτερωτός emplumado sulgedega ehitud پر دار höyheninen emplumé מְנוּצֶה परदार pernat tollas membului fjaðraður, fiðraður pennuto, piumato 羽毛をつけた 깃털이 난, 깃털로 덮인 plunksnotas spalvains berbulu gevederd fjærkledd/-pyntet upierzony adornado/enfeitado com penas? împănat украшенный перьями operený operjen pernat befjädrad ที่มีขนนกปกคลุม tüylü 有羽毛的 прикрашений пір'ям پردار có lông; có trang trí lông;
adj feathery
1 of, like, or covered in, a feather or feathers a feathery hat. geveerd, veeragtig ريشي، مَكْسو بالرّيش перушинест jako pírko; opeřený; péřový fjeragtig federartig φτερωτός, πουπουλένιος de plumas sulgjas, sulg- پری؛ پوشیده از پر höyheninen doux comme la plume; en plumes מְנוּצֶה पंखवत pernat, perjast tollas berhias bulu fiðraður piumato 羽毛をつけた 깃으로 뒤덮인 papuoštas plunksnomis, plunksnotas, plunksnų spalvains; spalvai līdzīgs berhias bulu vederachtig, gevederd fjærkledd pierzasty, z piórami de penas/emplumado cu pene; ca pana покрытый перьями ako pierko; operený pernat pernat fjäderbeklädd, fjäderlik ที่ปกคลุมด้วยขนนก tüylü 插有羽毛的 прикрашений пір'ям پروں کا ، پروں کی طرح được che phủ hoặc được trang trí bằng lông chim
2 soft and light a feathery touch. veeragtig, sag ناعِم وَخَفيف мек lehoučký fjerlet; blød; fin federgleich ελαφρός ligero sulgkerge نرم و لطیف höyhenenkevyt plumeux קָל וְרַך כְּנוֹצָה स्वच्छ एवं हल्का lak poput pera könnyű ringan, lembut fisléttur (leggero e soffice) 羽毛のように軽い 가벼운 lengvas kaip plunksnelė viegls; gaisīgs ringan vederlicht fjærlett, fin, myk lekki jak piórko, miękki jak puch macio uşor лёгкий ľahučký peresen mek fjäderlätt ซึ่งอ่อนนุ่มและเบาเหมือนขนนก tüy gibi 輕軟的 такий, що має вигляд пір'їни نرم اور ہلکا nhẹ tựa lông chim
a feather in one's cap
something one can be proud of Winning the race was quite a feather in his cap. iets is ʼn pluimpie vir iemand شَيءٌ يُفْتَخَر به، علامَة إمتياز повод за гордост veliké vyznamenání en fjer i hatten etwas, worauf man stolz sein kann τίτλος τιμής, κτ. για το οποίο κπ. είναι περήφανος un motivo de orgullo tõeline saavutus مایه افتخار sulka hatussa un fleuron à sa couronne דַבָר לְהִתגָאוֹת בּוֹ उपलब्धि nešto čime se netko može podičiti, što mu služi na čast becsületére válik kebanggaan afrek, rós í hnappagatið segno d'onore 自慢の種 눈부신 업적 kieno nors pasididžiavimas kaut kas, ar ko lepoties membanggakan iets om trots op te zijn en fjær i hatten przedmiot dumy motivo de orgulho/triunfo mândrie предмет гордости veľké vyznamenanie trofeja dika en fjäder i hatten ความภาคภูมิใจ gurur duyulacak şey 可以誇耀的事物 досягнення کارنامہ جو کسی کے نامئہ اعمال میں لکھا گیا ہو niềm tự hào 耀
feather one's (own) nest
to gain money for oneself or to make oneself rich while serving others in a position of trust All the time he has been a member of that committee he has been feathering his own nest. jou eie sakke vul, jou verryk يَكْسَبُ المال لِنَفْسِه забогатявам namastit si kapsu mele sin egen kage das Vertrauen andere Mißbrauchen, um Reichtum anzuhäufen βγάζω χρήματα εκμεταλλευόμενος την εμπιστοσύνη κπ. barrer para casa, hacer su agosto vahelt tegema, oma taskusse ajama با سواستفاده از جایگاه به پول و پله رسیدن tehdä rahaa faire sa pelote לִדאוֹג הֵיטֵב לְעַצמוֹ धन अर्जित करना nedopušteno se obogatiti (na dužnosti), “potkožiti se” megszedi magát memperkaya diri arricchirsi 사복(私腹)을 채우다 krautis turtus, prisikimšti kišenes piebāzt savu kabatu memperkayakan diri sendiri zijn schaapjes scheren, zich ten koste van anderen verrijken nabijać kabzę набивать карман vystlať si hniezdočko, nahrabať si (majetok) dobro si postlati nafatirati se novcem sko sig ใช้อำนาจในทางที่ผิด küpünü doldurmak 營私 нагріти руки; поживитися اپنا گھر بھرنا، دولت پٹورنا thu vén cho bản thân

feather رِيشَة pero fjer Feder πούπουλο pluma höyhen plume pero piuma 깃털 veer fjær pióro pena перо fjäder ขนนก tüy lông vũ 羽毛


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