See Also: Plume(medicine)
nom de plume(dictionary)
plume(1)(dictionary)
plume(2)(dictionary)
nom de plume(dictionary)
plume 1, noun(dictionary)
plume 2, verb(dictionary)

plume(2) (iou)



plume verb. [plu:m] LME.
[In branch I from Old & mod. French plumer, from plume PLUME noun; in branch II from PLUME noun or Latin plumare cover with feathers.]
I. verb intrans. Falconry. Of a hawk: pluck the feathers of the prey. Also foll. by on. LME-M17.
Dryden He peeps about..like a hawk that will not plume, if she be looked on.
verb trans.
a. Pluck (feathers) from a bird. E16-L17.
b. Pluck feathers from (a bird); strip, bare. Now rare. L16.
Sir W. Scott I will so pluck him as never hawk plumed a partridge. fig.: Bacon The King cared not to plume his Nobilitie..to feather himselfe.
II.
a. verb trans. Provide or cover (as) with feathers; feather; decorate with a plume or plumes. LME.
Joseph Strutt Several arrows..plumed with feathers. Joyce Cattle..smoke pluming their foreheads. Daily Telegraph Both sides of the valley were plumed with beechwoods.
b. verb trans. Set or place as a plume. rare (Milton). Only in M17.
c. verb intrans. Of a a trail of smoke, vapour, etc.: form a plume, move in a plume. M20.
W. Styron Smoke was pluming upward from the chimney.
a. verb refl. Dress oneself with borrowed plumes. Chiefly fig. L16.
b. verb refl. & intrans. fig. Take credit to oneself, pride, congratulate oneself, esp. regarding something trivial or to which one has no claim. Freq. foll. by on. M17.
T. Jefferson The atheist..plumes himself on the uselessness of such a God. J. Gross The Fortnightly plumed itself on being the champion of the enlightened.
verb trans.
a. refl. Of a bird: preen itself. E18.
b. Preen, trim, (feathers, wings, etc.), esp. in preparation for flight. E19.
Ouida Herons plumed their silvery wings. fig.: J. L. Motley Calumny plumed her wings for a fresh attack.