plumage

plural plumages

1. uncountablebiologyThe feathers covering the body of a bird collectively.

   The parrot sat, preening her plumage, on Long John [Silver]'s shoulder.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “In the Enemy’s Camp”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part VI (Captain Silver), page 228

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   Very fayre ⁊ hardy Hawkes [“Slauon Goshawkes”], large footed, very well penned, theyr downe and plumage excellent fine, their tungs blacke, and their nares large and wide.

   1575, Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, “Out of the Italian Concerning the Goshawkes and Their Kinds”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], The Booke of Faulconrie or Hauking, for the Onely Delight and Pleasure of All Noblemen and Gentlemen: […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, page 65

   [T]he glad Bird [a dove] ſtayes all the day abroad, / And vvondrous proud that he a place had found, / […] / Bathing himſelfe, vvhich long he had not done, / And dryes his feathers in the vvelcome Sunne, / Pruning his plumage, clenſing euery quill, / And going back, he beareth in his bill / An Oliue leafe, by vvhich Noah vnderſtood / The great decreaſe and vvaning of the flood: […]

   1630, Michael Drayton, “Noahs Flovd”, in The Muses Elizivm, Lately Discouered, by a New Way over Parnassvs. […], London: […] Thomas Harper, for Iohn Waterson, […], →OCLC, page 112

   [W]ith a ſvveat ſhe caſts her feathers; and is then carefully nurſed up and fed, till ſhe recover her plumage again.

   1678, Francis Willughby, “Of the Eagle in General”, in John Ray, transl., The Ornithology of Francis Willughby […] Wherein All the Birds hitherto Known, Being Reduced into a Method Sutable to Their Natures, are Accurately Described. […], London: […] A[ndrew] C[lark] for John Martyn, printer to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC, book II (Of Land-fowl), 1st part (Of Such as have Hooked Beaks and Talons), §. I (Of Rapacious Diurnal Birds), page 57

   The rock-thrush of Guiana, birds of Paradise, and some others, congregate; and successive males display their gorgeous plumage and perform strange antics before the females, which standing by as spectators, at last choose the most attractive partner.

   1859 November 24, Charles Darwin, “Natural Selection”, in On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, page 89

   In some few cases the young [birds] in their first plumage differ from each other according to sex; the young males resembling more or less closely the adult males, and the young females more or less closely the adult females.

   1871, Charles Darwin, “Birds—concluded”, in The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. […], volume II, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, Part II (Sexual Selection), page 187

   Synonyms: pennage

2. archaicbroadlyuncountableFeathers used ornamentally; feathering; (countable) a bunch or tuft of such feathers; a plume.

   [S]he could not but contrast the splendour of the Polish retinues and their plumages and draperies, with the strait-buttoned Prussian dignitaries, all in mere soldier uniform, succinct 'blue coat, white linen gaiters,' and no superfluity even in the epaulettes and red facings.

   1858, Thomas Carlyle, “Visit to Dresden”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book VI, page 38

3. broadlyobsoleteuncountablefalconryFeathers which are fed to a hawk to cause it to regurgitate, for the purpose of cleaning its crop; a type of casting.

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   Euery night, after he hath fleen with his hawke the daye, either at the fielde, or brooke, he muſte giue his hawke caſting, ſomewhyles plumage, ſome other whiles pellets of Cotton, or ſuche like, and agayne, ſometimes ſome one medicine or other, according as by hir caſting, or mewte, he ſhall perceyue hir to ſtande needefull thereof, […]

   1575, Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, “Certayne Speciall Poyntes, Necessarie for a Falconer, or Ostreger, Collected out of the Italian Author”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], The Booke of Faulconrie or Hauking, for the Onely Delight and Pleasure of All Noblemen and Gentlemen: […], London: […] [Henry Bynneman] for Christopher Barker, […], →OCLC, page 76

4. countablefigurativelyuncountableA person's dress, especially when elaborate or fine.

   While she was thinking what to say, Marie gradually wiped away her tears, and smoothed her plumage in a general sort of way, as a dove might be supposed to make toilet after a shower, […]

   1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “Tom’s Mistress and Her Opinions”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland, Oh.: Jewett, Proctor & Worthington, published 20 March 1852, →OCLC, page 248

5. countablefigurativelyuncountableA person's external appearance, especially when showy.

   I have thought / Of thee, thy learning, gorgeous eloquence, / And all the strength and plumage of thy youth, […]

   1799–1805 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Book VI. Cambridge and the Alps.”, in The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind; an Autobiographical Poem, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 147

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   This expression of liberality and confidence from a man of Major Bridgenorth's reserved and cautious disposition, gave full plumage to Mistress Deborah's hopes; […]

   1822, [Walter Scott], chapter XII, in Peveril of the Peak. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 289