from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Plume \Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plumed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Pluming}.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to
cover with feathers.]
1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or
prink.
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Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W.
Irving.
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2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage;
also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden.
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3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed
troop." --Shak.
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4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he
plumes himself on his skill. --South.
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{Plumed adder} (Zool.), an African viper ({Vipera cornuta},
syn. {Clotho cornuta}), having a plumelike structure over
each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African
puff adder. Called also {horned viper} and {hornsman}.
{Plumed partridge} (Zool.), the California mountain quail
({Oreortyx pictus}). See {Mountain quail}, under
{Mountain}.
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