white feather

noun

: a mark or symbol of cowardice
—used chiefly in the phrase show the white feather

Word History

Etymology

from the superstition that a white feather in the plumage of a gamecock is a mark of a poor fighter

First Known Use

circa 1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white feather was circa 1785

Dictionary Entries Near white feather

White Father

white feather

white fiber

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“White feather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20feather. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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