spadona

English

Alternative forms

• spadone

Etymology

From Italian spadone (“large sword”). Doublet of espadon.

Noun

spadona (plural spadonas)

1. A wing feather from a juvenile ostrich.
   • 1875 November 5, “The Ostrich Feather Market”, in The Sunbury Gazette, volume XXXVIII, number 15, Sunbury, Pa., column 6:

     An assorted case may contain fifty bundles of white feathers—some only of which will be perfectly long, full-tipped specimens—and perhaps 200 bundles of the qualities and shades known as Femina, Byocks, Spadona, Boos, and drab, together with the beautifully rich and silky black.

   • 1879 July 5, “Can We Domesticate the Ostrich?”, in The Daily American, volume 3, number 1,209, Nashville, Tenn., column 8:

     To conclude, then, it is considered by those who have carefully studied the subject, that the western portion of this continent presents certain advantages in ostrich culture which Southern Africa does not possess, and it is believed that the time will come, when ostrich feathers, running through all the varieties of Femina, Boos, Byock, and Spadona, as the grades are called, will be one of the features of the California market.

   • 1909 August 12, “Ostrich Feathers of Tripoli”, in Neenah Daily Times, volume 53, number 8,451, Neenah, Wis., Menasha, Wis., column 5:

     The usual kinds of ostrich feathers known to the trade come into the Tripoli market. These are whites, blacks, feminas, byocks, spadonas, boos, drabs and floss.

Synonyms

• spad

Italian

Etymology

From spada (“sword”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /spaˈdo.na/
• Rhymes: -ona
• Hyphenation: spa‧dó‧na

Adjective

spadona (feminine-only, feminine plural spadone)

1. Only used in pera spadona

Noun

spadona f (plural spadone)

1. Williams pear