2. The act of turning the blade of the oar, as it rises from
the water in rowing, from a vertical to a horizontal
position. See {To feather an oar}, under {Feather}, v. t.
{Feathering float} (Naut.), the float or paddle of a
feathering wheel.
{Feathering screw} (Naut.), a screw propeller, of which the
blades may be turned so as to move edgewise through the
water when the vessel is moving under sail alone.
{Feathering wheel} (Naut.), a paddle wheel whose floats turn
automatically so as to dip about perpendicularly into the
water and leave in it the same way, avoiding beating on
the water in the descent and lifting water in the ascent.
An eagle had the ill hap to be struck with an arrow
feathered from her own wing. --L'Estrange.
2. To adorn, as with feathers; to fringe.
A few birches and oaks still feathered the narrow
ravines. --Sir W.
Scott.
3. To render light as a feather; to give wings to.[R.]
The Polonian story perhaps may feather some tedions
hours. --Loveday.
4. To enrich; to exalt; to benefit.
They stuck not to say that the king cared not to
plume his nobility and people to feather himself.
--Bacon.
--Dryden.
5. To tread, as a cock. --Dryden.
{To feather one's nest}, to provide for one's self especially
from property belonging to another, confided to one's
care; -- an expression taken from the practice of birds
which collect feathers for the lining of their nests.
{To feather an oar} (Naut), to turn it when it leaves the
water so that the blade will be horizontal and offer the
least resistance to air while reaching for another stroke.
{To tar and feather a person}, to smear him with tar and
cover him with feathers, as a punishment or an indignity.