from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Down \Down\, n. [Akin to LG. dune, dun, Icel. d?nn, Sw. dun,
Dan. duun, G. daune, cf. D. dons; perh. akin to E. dust.]
1. Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of
animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool; esp.:
(a) (Zool.) The soft under feathers of birds. They have
short stems with soft rachis and bards and long
threadlike barbules, without hooklets.
(b) (Bot.) The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or
envelope of the seeds of certain plants, as of the
thistle.
(c) The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.
[1913 Webster]
And the first down begins to shade his face.
--Dryden.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which
affords ease and repose, like a bed of down
[1913 Webster]
When in the down I sink my head,
Sleep, Death's twin brother, times my breath.
--Tennyson.
[1913 Webster]
Thou bosom softness, down of all my cares!
--Southern.
[1913 Webster]
{Down tree} (Bot.), a tree of Central America ({Ochroma
Lagopus}), the seeds of which are enveloped in vegetable
wool.
[1913 Webster]