powder down

American  

noun

1. modified down feathers that continually crumble at the tips, producing a fine powder that forms a bloom on the plumage of certain birds, as pigeons and herons.

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Example Sentences

The operator would pour a measure of powder down the barrel, drop a projectile on top, then ram in a piece of wadding to hold everything in place.

From Washington Post • Jul. 16, 2020

His colleagues will ram black powder down the barrel.

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2013

Ms Llewellyn said she flushed the powder down the toilet and her brother assured her he was fine and planned to go to work.

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2011

Lyndon Johnson aides reportedly poured itching powder down the backs of demonstrators carrying anti-L.B.J. signs at his rallies�forcing them to drop their boards and scratch.

From Time Magazine Archive

He dumped a charge of powder down the bore of the cannon, rammed in a wad of cloth, and set a fuse in the fuse-hole.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood