PLUMAGE

feather, plume, plumage

(noun) the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

plumage (countable and uncountable, plural plumages)

(ornithology, collective noun) Layer or collection of feathers covering a bird’s body; feathers used ornamentally.

Synonym: pennage (obsolete)

Finery or elaborate dress.

Source: Wiktionary

Plum"age, n. Etym: [F., from plume a feather.] (Zoöl.)

Definition: The entire clothing of a bird.

Note: It consist of the contour feathers, or the ordinary feathers covering the head, neck, and body; the tail feathers, with their upper and lower coverts; the wing feathers, including primaries, secondaries, and tertiaries, with their coverts; and the down which lies beneath the contour feathers. See Illust. under Bird.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition