white feather

noun, Chiefly British
1.
a symbol of cowardice.
Idioms
2.
show the white feather, to behave in a cowardly manner.
Origin
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
Examples from the web for white feather
  • The priest took his wand-which, with its bouquet of folded paper, resembled a white feather duster-and touched it to the flames.
  • Harry is given a white feather by four of his friends, a public repudiation.
  • Immature cranes are a reddish cinnamon color that results in a mottled appearance as the white feather bases extend.
  • The eagle staff is topped by a deer antler that holds a small white feather.
  • Each time a cinnamon feather is lost, a white feather grows in its place.
  • Inevitable white feather boa, and the count never with out his long, light overcoat.
British Dictionary definitions for white feather

white feather

noun
1.
a symbol or mark of cowardice
2.
show the white feather, to act in a cowardly manner
Word Origin
from the belief that a white feather in a gamecock's tail was a sign of a poor fighter
Word Origin and History for white feather
n.

as a symbol of cowardice, 1785, supposedly from game-cocks, "where having a white feather, is proof he is not of the true game breed" [Grose].

Idioms and Phrases with white feather

white feather

see: show the white feather