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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



35 words match “PLUMAGE”

PLUMAGE n.
The entire clothing of a bird.
BLACK SPANISH n.
One of an old and well-known Mediterranean breed of domestic fowls with glossy black plumage, blue legs and feet, bright red comb and wattles, and white face. They are remarkable as egg layers.
BRONZEWING n.
An Australian pigeon of the genus Phaps, of several species; -- so called from its bronze plumage.
CANARY a.
y stone (Min.), a yellow species of carnelian, named from its resemblance in color to the plumage of the canary bird. -- Canary wood, the beautiful wood of the trees Persea Indica and P. Canariensis, natives of Madeira and the Canary Islands. -- Canary vine. See Canary bird flower, under Canary bird.…
CANVASBACK n.
n; particularly Chesapeake Bay and adjoining waters; -- so named from the markings of the plumage on its back.
COCCYGEAL a.
) , glands situated at the base of the tail of birds. They secrete the oil with which the plumage is dressed.
CODDYMODDY n.
A gull in the plumage of its first year.
DEPLUME v.
To strip or pluck off the feather of; to deprive of of plumage. On the depluming of the pope every bird had his own feather. Fuller.
EGRET n.
urope; and the American snowy egret (A. candidissima). A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. G. W. Cable.
ERYTHROCHROISM n.
An unusual redness, esp. in the plumage of birds, or hair of mammals, independently of age, sex, or season.
FENG-HWANG n.
A pheasantlike bird of rich plumage and graceful form and movement, fabled to appear in the land on the accession of a sage to the throne, or when right principles are about to prevail. It is often represented on porcelains and other works of art.
GRAY a.
lorida fish; the sea lawyer. See Snapper. -- Gray snipe (Zoöl.), the dowitcher in winter plumage. -- Gray whale (Zoöl.), a rather large and swift California whale (Rhachianectes glaucus), formerly taken in large numbers in the bays; -- called also grayback, devilfish, and hardhead.
GROUSE n.
d North America. They have plump bodies, strong, well-feathered legs, and usually mottled plumage. The group includes the ptarmigans (Lagopus), having feathered feet.
HOODED a.
Having the head conspicuously different in color from the rest of the plumage; -- said of birds.
HOPPING n.
enys), resembling the English blackbird in its familiar manners, agreeable song, and dark plumage.
INDUMENT n.
Plumage; feathers.
LINNET n.
and allied genera, esp. the common European species (L. cannabina), which, in full summer plumage, is chestnut brown above, with the breast more or less crimson. The feathers of its head are grayish brown, tipped with crimson. Called also gray linnet, red linnet, rose linnet, brown linnet, lintie, lintwhite, gorse that…
MARKING n.
marks made; arrangement or disposition of marks or coloring; as, the marking of a bird's plumage. Marking ink, indelible ink, because used in marking linen. -- Marking nut (Bot.), the nut of the Semecarpus Anacardium, an East Indian tree. The shell of the nut yields a blackish resinous juice used for marking cotton c…
MASKED a.
Having the anterior part of the head differing decidedly in color from the rest of the plumage; -- said of birds. Masked ball, a ball in which the dancers wear masks. -- Masked battery (Mil.), a battery so placed as not to be seen by an enemy until it opens fire. H. L. Scott. -- Masked crab (Zoöl.), a European crab (…
PARADISE n.
(Zoöl.), a very beautiful bird of New Guinea, of the genus Astrapia, having dark velvety plumage with brilliant metallic tints. -- Paradise nut (Bot.), the sapucaia nut. See Sapucaia nut. [Local, U. S.] -- Paradise whidah bird. (Zoöl.) See Whidah.
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