Tar-and-feather
Alternative forms
Verb
verb
- To cover a person in sticky tar, then covered in feathers which stick to the tar. An archaic means of humiliating a person.
- 1884 — Mark Twain, , chapter XIThe villagers had a strong desire to tar-and-feather Injun Joe and ride him on a rail, for body-snatching, but so formidable was his character that nobody could be found who was willing to take the lead in the matter, so it was dropped