Deplumation

/ˌdɛpluːˈmeɪʃən/ noun

Definition

The process or act of removing feathers; the condition of having lost or been stripped of feathers.

Etymology

From Latin deplumare (de- + pluma, 'feather') + -tion (Latin suffix forming nouns from verbs). A technical term in ornithology and zoology.

Kelly Says

Medieval and Renaissance physicians actually studied deplumation in animals for insight into human pathology, since feather loss seemed parallel to hair loss in diseases—a reminder that studying animals was literally how doctors learned about people.

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