contour feather

English - English

Definition of contour feather in English English dictionary

Any feather possessing a central shaft (rachis), usually with vanes composed of barbs

Any of the outermost feathers of a bird, forming the visible body contour and plumage

feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape

Related Terms

contour feathers

plural form of contour feather

Hyphenation

con·tour feath·er

Turkish pronunciation

käntûr fedhır

Pronunciation

/ˈkänˌto͝or ˈfeᴛʜər/ /ˈkɑːnˌtʊr ˈfɛðɜr/

Etymology

[ 'kän-"tur ] (noun.) 1662. French, from Italian contorno, from contornare to round off, from Medieval Latin, to turn around, from Latin com- + tornare to turn on a lathe; more at TURN.