'Powder-down feather' definitions:
Definition of 'Powder-down feather'
From: GCIDE
- Powder \Pow"der\, n. [OE. poudre, pouldre, F. poudre, OF. also poldre, puldre, L. pulvis, pulveris: cf. pollen fine flour, mill dust, E. pollen. Cf. Polverine, Pulverize.]
- 1. The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust. [1913 Webster]
- Grind their bones to powder small. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See Gunpowder. [1913 Webster]
- Atlas powder, Baking powder, etc. See under Atlas, Baking, etc.
- Powder down (Zool.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers.
- Powder-down feather (Zool.), one of a peculiar kind of modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a scaly exfoliation.
- Powder-down patch (Zool.), a tuft or patch of powder-down feathers.
- Powder hose, a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines. --Farrow.
- Powder hoy (Naut.), a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag.
- Powder magazine, or Powder room. See Magazine, 2.
- Powder mine, a mine exploded by gunpowder. See Mine.
- Powder monkey (Naut.), a boy formerly employed on war vessels to carry powder; a powder boy.
- Powder post. See Dry rot, under Dry.
- Powder puff. See Puff, n. [1913 Webster]