show the white feather — To show signs of cowardice, a white feather in a gamecock s tail being considered as a sign of degeneracy • • • Main Entry: ↑feather * * * Brit., dated behave in a cowardly fashion … Useful english dictionary
To show the white feather — Feather Feath er (f[e^][th] [ e]r), n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[eth]er; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[ o][eth]r, Sw. fj[ a]der, Dan. fj[ae]der, Gr. ptero n wing, feather, pe tesqai to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feather, pat to fly, and … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
show the white feather — show cowardliness, demonstrate a lack of courage … English contemporary dictionary
White feather — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
The White House — White White (hw[imac]t), a. [Compar. {Whiter} (hw[imac]t [ e]r); superl. {Whitest}.] [OE. whit, AS. hw[imac]t; akin to OFries. and OS. hw[=i]t, D. wit, G. weiss, OHG. w[=i]z, hw[=i]z, Icel. hv[=i]tr, Sw. hvit, Dan. hvid, Goth. hweits, Lith.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
white feather — n. [from the notion that a white feather in a gamecock s tail shows bad breeding, hence cowardice] an indication of cowardice: chiefly in show the white feather … English World dictionary
white feather — n. symbol of cowardice to show the white feather * * * [ symbol of cowardice ] to show the white feather … Combinatory dictionary
white feather — noun Etymology: from the superstition that a white feather in the plumage of a gamecock is a mark of a poor fighter Date: circa 1785 a mark or symbol of cowardice used chiefly in the phrase show the white feather … New Collegiate Dictionary
white feather — Chiefly Brit. 1. a symbol of cowardice. 2. show the white feather, to behave in a cowardly manner. [1775 85; orig. from a white feather in a gamecock s tail, taken as a sign of inferior breeding and hence of poor fighting qualities] * * * … Universalium
White feather — A white feather is sometimes given as a mark of cowardice. A white feather has been a traditional symbol of cowardice, used and recognised especially within the British Army and in countries associated with the British Empire since the 18th… … Wikipedia
Feather — Feath er (f[e^][th] [ e]r), n. [OE. fether, AS. fe[eth]er; akin to D. veder, OHG. fedara, G. feder, Icel. fj[ o][eth]r, Sw. fj[ a]der, Dan. fj[ae]der, Gr. ptero n wing, feather, pe tesqai to fly, Skr. pattra wing, feather, pat to fly, and prob.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
