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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Plume

Plūme, n.

noun

n. [Fr. plume, Pr., Sp., Pg., & Lat. pluma, It. piuma.]

  1. The feather of a bird; especially, the finer or heavier part of a feather.
  2. A large or handsome feather worn as an ornament on a helmet, on a military hat, on a lady’s bonnet, and the like. “His high plume, that nodded o’er his head.” Dryden.

There stuck no plume in any English crest. Shak.

  1. A token of honor, prowess, stateliness, or the like; that on which one prides himself. “Ambitious to win from me some plume.” Milton.
  2. Hence, towering mien; pride. [Obs.] Shak.
  3. (Bot.) A plumule. See PLUMULE.

Plūme, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. PLUMED; p. pr. & vb. n. PLUMING.] [Fr. plumer, Pr. plumar, Lat. plumare.] 1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of. “Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers.” Irving.

Swans must be kept in some inclosed pond, where they may have room to come on shore and plume themselves. Mortimer. 2. To strip of feathers. And after they have plumed ye, return home, Like a couple of naked fowls, without a feather. Fletcher. 3. To strip; to peel. [Rare.] Bacon. 4. To adorn with feathers or plumes. “The plumed troops.” W. Scott. His stature reached the sky; and on his crest Sat Horror plumed. Milton. 5. To pride; to value; to boast;—used reflexively; as, he plumes himself on his skill or his prowess. Can any thing in nature induce a man to pride and plume himself in his deformities? South.