cock feather

noun5

1. •
   The tailfeather of a cock.

   • A big, burly country squire, with red shaven cheeks, in a green jacket and a green hat with a cock feather, walks around, looks at everything severely. — 1945
2. •
   One of the feathers on an arrow that is placed at right angles to the nock on the bow, usually having a different color than the other feathers so that it is easily identified.

   • Reverse the arrow on the shelf of the bow so that the cock feather, which normally faces outward, is now up against the riser in full contact. — 2011
3. •
   Feather on an arrow.

   • Yet, surely it standeth with good reason, to have the cock-feather black or grey, as it were to give a man warning to nock right. — 1864
4. •
   Tailfeather of a cock.

   • and the Sergeant-at-Arms, a scarlet dress slashed with blue, blue surcoat, blue stockings, white shoes, and a hat with four feathers — one blue, one red, cock-feather, and eagle-red. — 1890
5. •
   Alternative form of cock feather.