feather etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: federe, from Old English feder
• Proto-West Germanic: *feðiraz
• Proto-Germanic: *feðra-
• Proto-Indo-European: *pet-er- (to fly)

Meaning:

• A light, flexible quill used for writing or as an ornament.
• A light, airy structure or object.
• The outer covering of a bird's body, composed of overlapping feathers.

Origin:

The word "feather" originated from the Proto-Indo-European root *pet-er-, which means "to fly." The word was first used in English in the mid-12th century to refer to the quill of a bird used for writing. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the feathers of birds, and by the mid-15th century, it was also being used to describe light, airy objects.

Additional Notes:

• The word "feather" is cognate with the words "father" and "pater" in many Indo-European languages, due to their shared Proto-Indo-European root.
• In heraldry, feathers are often used as a symbol of courage, loyalty, and flight.
• The phrase "light as a feather" is often used to describe something that is very light or delicate.

feather relate terms

• feather bed

  Etymology The term feather bed first appeared in the 15th century It is derived from

• feather

  Etymology Middle English federe from Old English feder Proto West Germanic feðiraz

• feather weight

  Etymology Featherweight is a compound word made up of feather and weight Meani

• feather

  Etymology Middle English federe from Old English feder Proto West Germanic feðiraz

• weight

  Etymology The word weight comes from the Old English word wiht which means a measur

• wing

  Etymology The word wing comes from the Old English word weng which likely originate

• plume

  Etymology The word plume comes from the Latin word pluma which means feather Me

• fledge

  Etymology The word fledge comes from the Old English word flēogan which means to f

• fern

  Etymology The word fern comes from the Old English word fearn which is derived from

• square

  Etymology of square Derived from the Old English word sċēare meaning a corner

• nave

  Etymology The word nave comes from the Latin word navis which means ship Meaning

• quill

  Etymology The word quill comes from the Middle English word quylle which in turn is