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The down, or fine, soft feathers, of the swan, used on various articles of dress.

The act of a swan with the down or the feathers on.

A downy or feathery appendage to certain achens. It is formed of the permanent elongated style.

A hen having a tuft of feathers on her head. [Scot.] Jamieson.

To smear with tar, or as with tar; as, to tar ropes; to tar cloth. To tar and feather a person. See under Feather, v. t.

g an excess of showy ornaments without grace; cheap and gaudy; as, a tawdry dress; tawdry feathers; tawdry colors. He rails from morning to night at essenced fops and tawdry courtiers. Spectator.

One of the quill feathers which are borne upon the basal joint of the wing of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.

A beautiful South American humming bird (Gouldia Popelairii), having the six outer tail feathers long, slender, and pointed. The head is ornamented with a long, pointed crest.

The cover, or case, of a bed, mattress, etc., which contains the straw, feathers, hair, or other filling.

rey, as a hawk does. [Obs.] Even as an empty eagle, sharp by fast, Tires with her beak on feathers, flesh, and bone. Shak. Ye dregs of baseness, vultures among men, That tire upon the hearts of generous spirits. B. Jonson.

To tickle; as, to titillate the nose with a feather. The pungent grains of titillating dust. Pope.

A crest or knot of feathers upon the head or top, as of a bird; also, an orgamental knot worn on top of the head, as by women. A great, stout servant girl, with cheeks as red as her topknot. Sir W. Scott.

A cervical ring of hair or feathers, distinguished by its color or structure; a collar.

To copulate with; to feather; to cover; -- said of the male bird. Chaucer. To tread out, to press out with the feet; to press out, as wine or wheat; as, to tread out grain with cattle or horses. -- To tread the stage, to act as a stageplayer; to perform a part in a drama.

haëthon, found chiefly in tropical seas. They are mostly white, and have two central tail feathers very long and slender. The yellow-billed tropic bird. Phaëthon flavirostris (called also boatswain), is found on the Atlantic coast of America, and is common at the Bermudas, where it breeds.

Appearing as if cut off at the tip; as, a truncate leaf or feather.

s in a knot or bunch; a waving or bending and spreading cluster; as, a tuft of flowers or feathers.

A red or crimson pigment obtained from certain feathers of several species of turacou; whence the name. It contains nearly six per cent of copper.

ive of Africa. They are remarkable for the peculiar green and red pigments found in their feathers. [Written also touraco, and touracou.]

A green pigment found in the feathers of the turacou. See Turacin.