cock-feather

English

Noun

cock-feather (plural cock-feathers)

1. Alternative form of cock feather
   1. Feather on an arrow.
      • 1820, Thomas Waring, A Treatise on Archery, page 28:

        Now place the Arrow on the string with the cock-feather uppermost, that is to say, the further side from the Bow, and the other two will slide over it, without being rumpled or discomposed, but place the cock-feather downwards, or next the Bow and the feather will go directly upon it, which not only injures the feather very much, but very soon takes it off;

      • 1860, Charles Cowden Clarke, Mary Cowden Clarke, "Many Happy Returns of the Day!": A Birth-day Book, page 121:

        Take hold of your arrow by the middle, and place it under the string and over the bow, against which you hold it, by throwing the forefinger of your left hand over the pile or head of the arrow; then drawing your right hand back to its other end, or nock, as it is called, you look for the cock-feather; this found, you let the arrow, held between your finger and thumb, slide down the bow, and you fix it, with the feather upwards, on that part of the string which is exactly opposite the top of the handle.

      • 1864, Roger Ascham, The Whole Works of Roger Ascham, page 126:

        Yet, surely it standeth with good reason, to have the cock-feather black or grey, as it were to give a man warning to nock right.

   2. Tailfeather of a cock.
      • 1866 Novembr, “Hugo Van Geest: A Tale of the Netherlands”, in Hours at Home: a Popular Monthly of Instruction and Recreation, volume 4, number 1, page 59:

        Upon the head was placed the red cardinal's hat, adorned with a cock-feather, its cords and tassels iron chains hanging to the ground, while through the brim a pair of buck-horns extended their curved points.

      • 1877, Charles Lowe, Henry Wilder Foote, John Hopkins Morison, The Unitarian Review and Religious Magazine - Volume 8, page 48:

        The town was divided into two factions, one of which relied for support upon Switzerland, the other upon Savoy. The Eidgenossen wore in their hats a cock-feather, in the Swiss fashion; the Mamelukes, like the Savoyards, a sprig of holly.

      • 1890, Cassell's Family Magazine - Volume 17, page 370:

        and the Sergeant-at-Arms, a scarlet dress slashed with blue, blue surcoat, blue stockings, white shoes, and a hat with four feathers — one blue, one red, cock-feather, and eagle-red.