hornsman

1 definition found

hornsman - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Plume \Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Plumed; p. pr. & vb. n.
     Pluming.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to
     cover with feathers.]
     1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or
        prink.
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              Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W.
                                                    Irving.
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     2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage;
        also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden.
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     3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. "Farewell the plumed
        troop." --Shak.
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     4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he
        plumes himself on his skill. --South.
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     Plumed adder (Zool.), an African viper (Vipera cornuta,
        syn. Clotho cornuta), having a plumelike structure over
        each eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African
        puff adder. Called also horned viper and hornsman.
  
     Plumed partridge (Zool.), the California mountain quail
        (Oreortyx pictus). See Mountain quail, under
        Mountain.
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