from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Feather \Feath"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Feathered}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Feathering.}]
1. To furnish with a feather or feathers, as an arrow or a
cap.
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An eagle had the ill hap to be struck with an arrow
feathered from her own wing. --L'Estrange.
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2. To adorn, as with feathers; to fringe.
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A few birches and oaks still feathered the narrow
ravines. --Sir W.
Scott.
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3. To render light as a feather; to give wings to.[R.]
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The Polonian story perhaps may feather some tedious
hours. --Loveday.
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4. To enrich; to exalt; to benefit.
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They stuck not to say that the king cared not to
plume his nobility and people to feather himself.
--Bacon.
--Dryden.
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5. To tread, as a cock. --Dryden.
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{To feather one's nest}, to provide for one's self especially
from property belonging to another, confided to one's
care; -- an expression taken from the practice of birds
which collect feathers for the lining of their nests.
{To feather an oar} (Naut), to turn it when it leaves the
water so that the blade will be horizontal and offer the
least resistance to air while reaching for another stroke.
{To tar and feather a person}, to smear him with tar and
cover him with feathers, as a punishment or an indignity.
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