plumages

Noun

plumage (countable and uncountable, plural plumages)

1. (uncountable) The feathers covering the body of a bird collectively.
   • Very fayre ⁊ hardy Hawkes [“Slauon Goshawkes”], large footed, very well penned, theyr downe and plumage excellent fine, their tungs blacke, and their nares large and wide.1575, Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, “Out of the Italian Concerning the Goshawkes and Their Kinds”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], The Booke of Faulconrie or Hauking, for the Onely...

   Synonyms:

   pennage

2. (archaic, broadly, uncountable) Feathers used ornamentally; feathering; (countable) a bunch or tuft of such feathers; a plume.
   • [S]he could not but contrast the splendour of the Polish retinues and their plumages and draperies, with the strait-buttoned Prussian dignitaries, all in mere soldier uniform, succinct 'blue coat, white linen gaiters,' and no superfluity even in the epaulettes and red facings.1858, Thomas Carlyle, “Visit to Dresden”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book VI, page 38
3. (broadly, obsolete, uncountable) Feathers which are fed to a hawk to cause it to regurgitate, for the purpose of cleaning its crop; a type of casting.
   • Euery night, after he hath fleen with his hawke the daye, either at the fielde, or brooke, he muſte giue his hawke caſting, ſomewhyles plumage, ſome other whiles pellets of Cotton, or ſuche like, and agayne, ſometimes ſome one medicine or other, according as by hir caſting, or mewte, he ſhall...1575, Francesco Sforzino Vicentino, “Certayne Speciall Poyntes, Necessarie for a Falconer, or Ostreger, Collected out of the Italian Author”, in George Turberuile [i.e.. George Turberville], The...
4. (figuratively) A person's dress, especially when elaborate or fine.
   • While she was thinking what to say, Marie gradually wiped away her tears, and smoothed her plumage in a general sort of way, as a dove might be supposed to make toilet after a shower, […]1851 June – 1852 April, Harriet Beecher Stowe, “Tom’s Mistress and Her Opinions”, in Uncle Tom’s Cabin; or, Life among the Lowly, volume I, Boston, Mass.: John P[unchard] Jewett & Company; Cleveland...
5. (figuratively) A person's external appearance, especially when showy.
   • I have thought / Of thee, thy learning, gorgeous eloquence, / And all the strength and plumage of thy youth, […]1799–1805 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Book VI. Cambridge and the Alps.”, in The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind; an Autobiographical Poem, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1850...