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feather

feather

10 8.2
The turning of an oar blade parallel to the water between strokes
  • noun
  • /ˈfɛðər/
  • Jargon
translation icon : giro de la pala
  • Kinda looks like we, birds of a feather.

Examples

  • There are three different variations of this feather, and you can use all or one.

    Blog text (14)
  • I was a feather in his cap, and he was going to be handling the feather very roughly.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Beat yourself with a feather, not a bat.

  • - Oh, birds of a feather and all that.

  • You mean birds of a feather?

  • It would be a big feather in our cap if we could supply some material evidence that would put these people away.

  • The hides and feathers are missing.

  • The sky filled with a cloud of black feathers and beating wings.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • He'd changed the sheets, plumped up the single pillow, which was a goose-feather pillow from home.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • To reduce wind resistance, he quickly feathered the oar between strokes as he paddled.

Synonyms

feathering
vsfeather
  • Jargon
3 7.8

Turning an oar blade flat between strokes so wind hits it less

is the same action but named as a simple noun or base form

Idioms

4 6.3

An achievement you can be proud of

To be so surprised that you almost cannot react

1 8.3

Use a job or position to get money for yourself in a dishonest way

People who share similar interests often spend time together

in full feather
  • Archaic
9.2

Wearing bright feathers or the best clothes and looking proud

Compounds

4 2.4

A feather that grows on a bird's tail

3 4.4

A long fluffy scarf made of feathers worn to look glamorous or to finish a costume

2 3.9

A soft mattress filled with feathers to keep you warm while sleeping

1 9.9

A tall garden plant with long colorful flower spikes

1 3.2

A very soft feather under a bird's outer feathers that keeps the bird warm

flight feather
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A large stiff feather on a bird's wing or tail that helps it fly

primary feather
  • Specialized
1 5.2

A long part of a bird's wing at the outer edge that helps the bird fly

white feather
  • Offensive
1 9.5

A small white piece from a bird that people give to show someone is a coward

contour feather
  • Specialized
8.2

A feather that covers a bird's body and forms its smooth outer shape

A palm tree with long leaves divided into many thin parts like a bird's wing

A tall garden grass with feathery flower spikes used for decoration

feather star
  • Specialized
9.9

A sea animal with many feathery arms that can swim and lives on the sea floor

feather-brain
  • Offensive
9.1

A person who often forgets things and acts silly

8.5

A silly idea that shows little thought

9.9

A small round cactus with white feathery spines from northern Mexico

A small plant with a pleasant smell, oak-shaped leaves, and groups of yellow-green flowers

A small water plant with thin leaves that look like feathers

9.9

A plant with tall spikes of small purple flowers that attract butterflies

9.9

A New Zealand fern with divided leaves and very hairy stalks

A yearly garden plant with long hanging red flower spikes

A long stiff part of a bird's wing once used for writing

saddle feather
  • Specialized
8.9

A long narrow feather on the back of a chicken near its tail

A coral that grows in feathery groups on warm ocean reefs

A long curved tail feather on a rooster that looks decorative

Surface Forms

feather singular
feathers plural

Etymology

The feather of an oar is the action of turning the blade flat between strokes, named after how a feather lies flat and reduces air resistance.