blood, noun

Origin:
See quotation 1913.
Ostrich-farming
In full blood feather: a partly grown feather from the wing of a cock ostrich, with blood still in the shaft. See also prime.
1873 F. Boyle To Cape for Diamonds 193It is very rare to find tame ‘bloods’ — as these first feathers are called — that will bear comparison with the wild.
1874 W.G. Atherstone in De Mosenthal & Harting Ostriches & Ostrich Farming (1877) 205He then picked out a blood-feather, very beautiful, which, on being cut, bled a little, but..without it being felt.
1877 De Mosenthal & Harting Ostriches & Ostrich Farming 225The finest white wild ‘blood-feathers’..are worth more than double.
1880 S.W. Silver & Co.’s Handbk to S. Afr. 234Chicken plumes are worth 5s., and blood feathers from 35l. to 45l., or even 60l. a lb.
1886 G.A. Farini Through Kalahari Desert 134I..plucked out his best feathers — all ‘bloods,’ though not very long, the season being early.
1886 G.A. Farini Through Kalahari Desert 328‘What’s a blood feather, Jan?’ ‘One that’s pulled out with blood in the pen. The tame ones are cut. If they were pulled out, they would never grow again.’
1913 J.E. Duerden in S. Afr. Agric. Jrnl VI. 656Partly grown feathers with the blood within them are known as blood feathers, or, technically, as ‘bloods’.
In full blood feather:a partly grown feather from the wing of a cock ostrich, with blood still in the shaft.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18731913

Browse Related Words

By Category

Animal Husbandry
Crafts Trades and Artefacts
blommetjie, nounn.blood sickness, noun phrasen. phr.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English