pinfeather

[ pin-feth-er ]

noun

, Ornithology.

1. an undeveloped feather before the web portions have expanded.
2. a feather just coming through the skin.

pinfeather

/ ˈpɪnˌfɛðə /

noun

1. ornithol a feather emerging from the skin and still enclosed in its horny sheath

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinfeather¹

First recorded in 1765–75; pin + feather

Example Sentences

I repaired his right wing pinfeather—‘...news of a mine disaster, caused by a large savage sea rat with an extraordinary tail. It seems that this rat—Cluny they called him—wanted to settle his army in the mine. The badgers and other creatures who owned the mine drove them out. Cluny returned by night, and with his band of rats gnawed away and undermined much of the wooden shoring. This caused the mine to collapse the next day, killing the owners.’

From Literature

Hospital Tommy drew a pinfeather toothpick from under his smock.

From Literature

Now a dark pinfeather is a blot upon the fair surface of a fine chicken or duck, and the thrifty housewife in selecting her dinner will always leave the pins behind.

From Project Gutenberg

And as George, seeing his opportunity, commenced to compliment Toby, and engage his attention, the result was that he got his partridge not only completely denuded down to the last pinfeather, but split along the back in the bargain.

From Project Gutenberg

Other pinfeather fliers, who turned their checkered caps backward when they climbed into their planes, called him "The Dude."

From Time Magazine Archive