Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
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intj
Indicates disbelief.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, euphemistic
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
plural of horsefeather (singular not used)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, plural
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Nonsense; indicates disbelief.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, euphemistic, plural, plural-only
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Long hair on lower legs of a draft horse (e.g., Clydesdale), especially the rear legs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural, plural-only
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Feathering strips.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural, plural-only
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
The "nonsense" sense, a euphemism for horseshit, is horse + feathers, a nonexistent item as only birds have feathers. Compare hen’s teeth. The "horse hair" sense notes the similarity of that hair to bird feathers. Regarding the roofing sense, compare feathering strip and horsefeathers.
Across languages
4 source translations are retained for this English entry.
