swan's-down

A baby's blanket is made from soft swan's-down.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Soft feathers of a swan: "swan's-down" refers to the fine, soft underfeathers of a swan, often used for stuffing pillows, quilts, or clothing.
   • A type of fabric: "swan's-down" can also denote a soft, thick, napped fabric (typically cotton or wool) that resembles swan's feathers in texture.

Usage Examples

• Soft feathers:

  • The pillow was filled with genuine swan's-down for ultimate comfort. (The pillow contained the soft underfeathers of a swan.)
  • She wore a coat lined with swan's-down to stay warm in winter. (The coat had a lining made from swan's soft feathers.)

• Fabric:

  • The baby's blanket was made of swan's-down, so it felt incredibly plush. (The blanket was made of a soft, thick fabric resembling swan feathers.)
  • He bought a swan's-down jacket for its lightweight warmth. (The jacket was made of a fabric designed to imitate the texture of swan feathers.)

Advanced Usage

• "as soft as swan's-down": a simile meaning extremely soft and gentle.

  • Her skin was as soft as swan's-down. (Her skin was exceptionally smooth and delicate.)

• "swan's-down trimming": decorative edging made from swan feathers or fabric resembling them.

  • The vintage dress had swan's-down trimming around the collar. (The dress was adorned with soft feather-like material.)

Variants and Related Words

• Down (n): soft, fine feathers found under the outer feathers of birds, used for insulation.

  • The duvet is filled with goose down. (The duvet contains soft feathers from geese.)

• Swansdown (n, alternative spelling): a variant spelling of "swan's-down," often used in product names.

  • The swansdown powder puff was a popular cosmetic accessory. (A soft puff made from swan's-down fabric.)

Synonyms

• Plumage: the feathers of a bird, especially when used for decoration.
• Eiderdown: soft down from the eider duck, similar in use to swan's-down.

Related Idioms

• Like a swan's down feather: used to describe something extremely light or gentle.

  • The snow fell like a swan's down feather. (The snow was very light and delicate.)

• Swan's-down touch: a phrase describing a very gentle or tender action.

  • She applied the cream with a swan's-down touch. (She applied the cream very softly.)