powder down

noun

A special type of down that occurs in a few groups of apparently unrelated birds. In some species, the tips of the barbules on the feathers disintegrate, forming fine particles of keratin; in others, powder grains come from cells that surround the barbules of growing feathers.

“All parrots have powder down.”

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Meanings

nounpowder down (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA special type of down that occurs in a few groups of apparently unrelated birds. In some species, the tips of the barbules on the feathers disintegrate, forming fine particles of keratin; in others, powder grains come from cells that surround the barbules of growing feathers.

    All parrots have powder down.

Cite this entry
APA

powder down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/powder%20down

MLA

“powder down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/powder%20down. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “powder down,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/powder%20down.

Source: powder down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.