feathering
noun
[ ˈfɛð(ə)rɪŋ ]
• the plumage of a bird or part of a bird.
• the action of varying the angle of propellers, rotor blades, or oars so as to reduce air or water resistance.
• the spreading and separation of ink, lipstick, etc. into tiny lines after application.
• "a long-lasting formula that resists feathering and protects the lips"
feather
verb
• rotate the blades of (a propeller) about their own axes in such a way as to lessen the air or water resistance.
• float or move like a feather.
• "the green fronds feathered against a blue sky"
• blend or smooth delicately.
• "feather the paint in, in a series of light strokes"
• (of ink, lipstick, etc.) separate into tiny lines after application.
• "the ink started to feather and smudge"
• short for feather cut.
Origin:
Old English fether, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch veer and German Feder, from an Indo-European root shared by Sanskrit patra ‘wing’, Latin penna ‘feather’, and Greek pteron, pterux ‘wing’.
