Plumage

/ˈpluːmɪdʒ/ noun

Definition

The feathers covering a bird's body, especially when they're colorful or beautiful to look at.

Etymology

From Old French 'plume' meaning 'feather,' derived from Latin 'pluma.' The suffix '-age' turns it into a noun describing the collective feature, similar to how 'foliage' describes a collection of leaves.

Kelly Says

A bird's plumage isn't just for show—the color, pattern, and arrangement of feathers tell other birds everything from health status to readiness to mate, making feathers a language all their own that humans are still learning to read.

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