Plumage

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: ploÍžom'Ä­j, IPA: /ˈpluːmɪdÊ’/
• Rhymes: -uːmɪdÊ’

Origin

From Old French plumage (14c.), itself from plume ("feather") (from Latin pluma ("feather, down"), from a Proto-Indo-European base *plews- ("to pluck, a feather, fleece") + -age.

Full definition of plumage

Noun

1. Feathers, either covering a bird or used ornamentally
• 1969, Monty Python, "" ()Owner: No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, idn'it, ay? Beautiful plumage!Praline: The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
2. Finery or elaborate dress.

Related terms

• plumate
• plumelet