show the white feather

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.68 in modern English

Syllables: show the white feath-er
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Meaning

verb

To display cowardice.

Example Sentences

"You don’t want to show the white feather in front of all the kids."
"I hope, Digory, you are not given to showing the white feather. I should be very sorry to think that anyone of our family had not enough honour and chivalry to go to the aid of-er-a lady in distress."

Etymology

A white feather in the tail of a cock was considered an indication that he was not of the true game breed.

Inflected Forms

shows the white feather (present, singular) showing the white feather (participle, present) showed the white feather (past) shown the white feather (participle, past) showed the white feather (US, also)

Questions

What does show the white feather mean?

To display cowardice.

Where does show the white feather come from?

A white feather in the tail of a cock was considered an indication that he was not of the true game breed.

How to pronounce show the white feather

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