Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Plume

Plume

,
Noun.
[F., fr. L.
pluma
. Cf.
Fly
,
Verb.
]
1.
A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long, conspicuous, or handsome feather.
Wings . . . of many a colored
plume
.
Milton.
2.
(Zool.)
An ornamental tuft of feathers.
3.
A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling feathers.
His high
plume
, that nodded o’er his head.
Dryden.
4.
A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides himself; a prize or reward.
“Ambitious to win from me some plume.”
Milton.
5.
(Bot.)
A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses.
Plume bird
(Zool.)
,
any bird that yields ornamental plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from New Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white heron of Florida (
Ardea candidissima
).
Plume grass
.
(Bot)
(a)
A kind of grass (
Erianthus saccharoides
) with the spikelets arranged in great silky plumes, growing in swamps in the Southern United States
.
(b)
The still finer
Erianthus Ravennæ
from the Mediterranean region. The name is sometimes extended to the whole genus.
Plume moth
(Zool.)
,
any one of numerous small, slender moths, belonging to the family
Pterophoridæ
. Most of them have the wings deeply divided into two or more plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the grapevine.
Plume nutmeg
(Bot.)
,
an aromatic Australian tree (
Atherosperma moschata
), whose numerous carpels are tipped with long plumose persistent styles.

Plume

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Plumed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Pluming
.]
[Cf. F.
plumer
to pluck, to strip, L.
plumare
to cover with feathers.]
1.
To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or prink.
Pluming
her wings among the breezy bowers.
W. Irving.
2.
To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage; also, to peel.
[Obs.]
Bacon. Dryden.
3.
To adorn with feathers or plumes.
“Farewell the plumed troop.”
Shak.
4.
To pride; to vaunt; to boast; – used reflexively;
as, he
plumes
himself on his skill
.
South.
Plumed adder
(Zool.)
,
an African viper (
Vipera cornuta
, syn.
Clotho cornuta
), having a plumelike structure over each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African puff adder. Called also
horned viper
and
hornsman
.
Plumed partridge
(Zool.)
,
the California mountain quail (
Oreortyx pictus
). See
Mountain quail
, under
Mountain
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Plume

PLUME

,
Noun.
[L. pluma.]
1.
The feather of a fowl, particularly a large feather.
2.
A feather worn as an ornament, particularly an ostrich's feather.
And his high plume that nodded o'er his head.
3.
Pride; towering mien.
4.
Token of honor; prize of contest.
Ambitious to win from me some plume.

PLUME


Definition 2024


plumé

plumé

See also: plume and plūme

French

Verb

plumé m (feminine singular plumée, masculine plural plumés, feminine plural plumées)

  1. past participle of plumer