from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Feathering \Feath"er*ing\, n.
1. (Arch.) Same as {Foliation}.
[1913 Webster]
2. The act of turning the blade of the oar, as it rises from
the water in rowing, from a vertical to a horizontal
position. See {To feather an oar}, under {Feather}, v. t.
[1913 Webster]
3. A covering of feathers.
[1913 Webster]
{Feathering float} (Naut.), the float or paddle of a
feathering wheel.
{Feathering screw} (Naut.), a screw propeller, of which the
blades may be turned so as to move edgewise through the
water when the vessel is moving under sail alone.
{Feathering wheel} (Naut.), a paddle wheel whose floats turn
automatically so as to dip about perpendicularly into the
water and leave in it the same way, avoiding beating on
the water in the descent and lifting water in the ascent.
[1913 Webster]