feather: [OE] The concept of ‘feathers’ is closely bound up with those of ‘wings’ and ‘flying’, and not surprisingly feather belongs to a word family in which all three of these meanings are represented. Its ultimate source is the prehistoric Indo-European base *pet-, which also produced Greek ptéron ‘wing’ (as in English pterodactyl), Latin penna ‘feather, wing’ (source of English pen), and Sanskrit pátati ‘fly’. Its Germanic descendant was *fethrō, from which came German feder, Dutch veer, Swedish fjäder and English feather (itself used in the plural for ‘wings’ in Anglo-Saxon times). => pen, pterodactyl
feather (n.)
Old English feðer "a feather; a pen," in plural, "wings," from Proto-Germanic *fethro (cognates: Old Saxon fethara, Old Norse fioþr, Swedish fjäder, Middle Dutch vedere, Dutch veder, Old High German fedara, German Feder), from PIE *pet-ra-, from root *pet- "to rush, to fly" (see petition (n.)). Feather-headed "silly" is from 1640s. Feather-duster attested by 1835. Figurative use of feather in (one's) cap attested by 1734. Birds of a feather "creatures of the same kind" is from 1580s.
feather (v.)
Old English fiðerian "to furnish with feathers or wings," from feðer (see feather (n.)). Meaning "to fit (an arrow) with feathers" is from early 13c.; that of "to deck, adorn, or provide with plumage" is from late 15c. In reference to oars (later paddles, propellers, etc.) from 1740, perhaps from the notion of the blade turned edgewise, or from the spray of the water as it falls off (compare nautical feather-spray, that produced by the cutwater of a fast vessel). The noun in reference to this is from the verb. Meaning "cut down to a thin edge" is from 1782, originally in woodworking. Phrase feather one's nest "enrich oneself" is from 1580s. Related: Feathered; feathering.
双语例句
1. The feather must be removed with a straight, firm pull.
拔羽毛必须干净利落。
来自柯林斯例句
2. She and my mother were birds of a feather.
她和我妈妈是一个类型的人。
来自柯林斯例句
3. I taped the base of the feather onto the velvet.
我用胶带把羽毛的根部粘在了天鹅绒上。
来自柯林斯例句
4. Harry'sappointment to this important post was a feather in his cap.
哈里被任命担任如此要职，这是件荣耀的事。
来自柯林斯例句
5. Winning the gold medal was a feather in his cap.