Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Plume
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 skillSouth.
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.)
, Webster 1828 Edition
Plume
PLUME
,Noun.
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.