DOWNY

downy, pubescent, puberulent, sericeous

(adjective) covered with fine soft hairs or down; “downy milkweed seeds”

downy, downlike, flossy, fluffy

(adjective) like down or as soft as down

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Adjective

downy (comparative downier, superlative downiest)

Having down, covered with a soft fuzzy coating as of small feathers or hair.

Sharp-witted, perceptive.

Etymology 2

From the noun.

Noun

downy (plural downies)

A blanket filled with down; a duvet.

Source: Wiktionary


Down"y, a.

1. Covered with down, or with pubescence or soft hairs. "A downy feather." Shak. Plants that . . . have downy or velvet rind upon their leaves. Bacon.

2. Made of, or resembling, down. Hence, figuratively: Soft; placid; soothing; quiet. "A downy shower." Keble. "Downy pillow." Pope. Time steals on with downy feet. Young.

3. Cunning; wary. [Slang, Eng.] Latham.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

20 June 2025

MODEST

(adjective) marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself; “a modest apartment”; “too modest to wear his medals”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

coffee icon