Definitions for feathering

• Definition
• Anagrams (654)

feathering feath·er·ing

Spelling: [feth -er-ing]

IPA: /ˈfɛð ər ɪŋ/

Feathering is a 10 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 17 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 18 points.

You can make 654 anagrams from letters in feathering (aeefghinrt).

Definitions for feathering

noun

1. a covering of feathers; plumage.
2. the arrangement of feathers on an arrow.
3. Music. a very light and delicate use of the violin bow.
4. one of the horny structures forming the principal covering of birds, consisting typically of a hard, tubular portion attached to the body and tapering into a thinner, stemlike portion bearing a series of slender, barbed processes that interlock to form a flat structure on each side.
5. kind; character; nature:
6. something like a feather, as a tuft or fringe of hair.
7. something very light, small, or trivial:
8. Archery. one of the vanes at the tail of an arrow or dart.
9. Carpentry. a spline for joining the grooved edges of two boards.
10. Masonry. See under plug and feathers.
11. a featherlike flaw, especially in a precious stone.
12. Machinery. feather key.
13. Archaic. attire.
14. Obsolete. plumage.

Idioms

1. a feather in one's cap, a praiseworthy accomplishment; distinction; honor:
2. birds of a feather. bird (def 15).
3. feather one's nest, to take advantage of the opportunities to enrich oneself:
4. in fine / high feather, in good form, humor, or health:
5. ruffle someone's feathers, to anger, upset, or annoy (another person).
6. smooth one's ruffled / rumpled feathers, to regain one's composure; become calm:

Verb phrases

1. feather into, South Midland U.S. to attack (a person, task, or problem) vigorously.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide with feathers, as an arrow.
2. to clothe or cover with or as with feathers.
3. Rowing. to turn (an oar) after a stroke so that the blade becomes nearly horizontal, and hold it thus as it is moved back into position for the next stroke.
4. Aeronautics. to change the blade angle of (a propeller) so that the chords of the blades are approximately parallel to the line of flight. to turn off (an engine) while in flight.

verb (used without object)

1. to grow feathers.
2. to be or become feathery in appearance.
3. to move like feathers.
4. Rowing. to feather an oar.

Origin of feathering

First recorded in 1520-30; feather + -ing¹

Examples for feathering

The crew instantly levelled their oars, feathering the blades.

This consists of very fine lines with little if any feathering.

And as for his taunts, well, he was but feathering my arrows.

Rising and going back to the feathering of the prayer-stick.

He had been lying on them; their feathering was ruffled and their quills were fractured.

There shall be no tarring and feathering of women by any man in my employ.

On the return, the young oarsmen were instructed in feathering their oars.

Republicans are spending the vast majority of their time tarring and feathering each other.

The oarsmen levelled their oars, feathering the blades, and listening to the march.

Never mind that China obsessively focuses on feathering its own economic nest, often at the expense of poor nations.