Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A sign of cowardice.
- idiom (show the white feather) To act like a coward.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a symbol of cowardice
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[From the belief that a gamecock with a white feather in its tail was a poor fighter.]
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Examples
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alexz commented on the word white feather
White feathers were handed out to civilian men in the first world war if they didn't enlist in the armed forces. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/history-of-the-first-world-war-in-100-moments/a-history-of-the-first-world-war-in-100-moments-white-feather-for-winner-of-victoria-cross-9352952.html
January 14, 2015