*plumage*

n. [ F., from plume a feather. ] (Zool.) The entire clothing of a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It consist of the contour feathers, or the ordinary feathers covering the head, neck, and body; the tail feathers, with their upper and lower coverts; the wing feathers, including primaries, secondaries, and tertiaries, with their coverts; and the down which lies beneath the contour feathers. See Illust. under Bird. [ 1913 Webster ]