Definition

Adjective: Having plumage (feathers) that is soft, smooth, and dense, resembling the texture of velvet.

Usage

This is a descriptive, often poetic or literary, adjective used to characterize the exceptionally soft and smooth appearance of a bird's feathers. It emphasizes a visual and tactile quality.

Examples

• The velvety-plumaged owl sat silently on the branch, almost invisible in the dusk.
• Birdwatchers were delighted to spot the rare, velvety-plumaged quail in the underbrush.
• The artist captured the velvety-plumaged texture of the raven's wings with incredible detail.

Advanced Usage

• Used in ornithological descriptions to denote a specific, luxurious feather texture.
• Often applied to birds with dark, dense feathers that have a soft sheen, such as certain owls, ravens, or birds of paradise.

Variants and Related Words

• Plumage (n.): The layer of feathers that cover a bird.
• Velvety (adj.): Having the soft, smooth texture of velvet. Can be used independently (e.g., velvety petals, velvety voice).
• Plumed (adj.): Having or decorated with feathers.

Synonyms

• Soft-feathered
• Downy (though this often implies more fluffiness than smoothness)
• Silky-plumaged

Antonyms

• Coarse-feathered
• Scruffy-plumaged
• Bristly

Adjective

1. plumage resembling velvet