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Definitions for: Plume
[n] the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
[n] a feather or cluster of feathers worn as an ornament
[v] dress or groom with elaborate care; "She likes to dress when going to the opera"
[v] form a plume; "The chimneys were pluming the sky"; "The engine was pluming black smoke"
[v] clean with one's bill, of birds
[v] deck with a plume, as of a helmet
[v] be proud of; "He prides himself on making it into law school"
[v] rip off; ask an unreasonable price
Webster (1913) Definition: Plume, n. [F., fr. L. pluma. Cf. Fly, v.]
1. A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long,
conspicuous, or handsome feather.
Wings . . . of many a colored plume. --Milton.
2. (Zo["o]l.) 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 (Zo["o]l.), 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 E. Ravenn[ae] from the Mediterranean
region. The name is sometimes extended to the whole
genus.
Plume moth (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous small, slender
moths, belonging to the family Pterophorid[ae]. 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, v. 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 (Zo["o]l.), an African viper ({Vipera, or
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 (Zo["o]l.), the California mountain quail
(Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under
Mountain.
Synonyms: congratulate, dress, feather, fleece, gazump, hook, overcharge, pluck, plumage, preen, preen, pride, primp, rob, soak, surcharge
Antonyms: undercharge
See Also: adornment, aftershaft, aigret, aigrette, alula, animal material, arrange, attire, bastard wing, beat, bedeck, bedight, bill, bird, body covering, calamus, ceratin, charge, cheat, chisel, clean, contour feather, deck, deck out, deck up, down, down feather, dress up, experience, extort, fancy up, feel, fig out, fig up, flight feather, form, get up, gouge, gussy up, hackle, keratin, make clean, marabou, melanin, overdress, panache, pinion, prink, quill, quill feather, rack, rig out, rip off, scapular, set up, shaft, shape, spurious wing, tog out, tog up, trick out, trick up, vane, web, wring
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