View synonyms for

contour feather

noun

Ornithology.

one of the feathers that form the surface plumage of a bird, including those of the wings and tail but excluding such specialized types as downs and filoplumes.

contour feather

noun

any of the feathers that cover the body of an adult bird, apart from the wings and tail, and determine its shape

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Word History and Origins

Origin of contour feather¹

First recorded in 1865–70

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"However, it could be a covert or a contour feather, especially since the latter are not well known in Archaeopteryx."

From

Sleek contour feathers over thick down, pearls of water running over white feathers thick and curled as paper sculpture.

From

He was so close she could hear his contour feathers buzz in the wind.

From

The down-feathers are generally completely hidden by the contour feathers: they form in many birds, such as gulls and ducks, a thick underclothing comparable to the under-fur of mammals such as the seals.

From

Most of the down and contour feathers were removed to allow the preservative to reach the skin.

From

contour curtain contouring

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