plumage

Pronunciation: /ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

Etymology

From Old French plumage (14c.), itself from plume (“feather”) (from Latin plūma (“feather, down”), from a Proto-Indo-European base *plews- (“to pluck, a feather, fleece”) + -age. By surface analysis, plume + -age.

In classic literature

Synonyms

feather, plume

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
animal material, body covering
Narrower (hyponyms)
aftershaft, contour feather, marabou, hackle, flight feather, bastard wing

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