Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Plume?

\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}.