deplume
C2Literary/Technical
Definition
Meaning
To pluck or strip the feathers from (a bird).
To strip of honours, wealth, or other attributes (figuratively).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb's core, literal meaning is specific to the action of removing feathers. The figurative usage, meaning to strip of honour or possessions, is more literary and archaic. Both senses are now rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical (aviculture, history) or literary/archaic. May carry a connotation of violence or humiliation in figurative use.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. More likely to be encountered in historical or zoological texts than in modern prose.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] deplume [OBJ] (literal)[SUBJ] deplume [OBJ] of [HONOURS/WEALTH] (figurative)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Possible in historical or literary analysis (figurative), or in zoology/avian studies (literal).
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in ornithology and historical descriptions of fowl preparation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The historical recipe required one to deplume the pheasant before roasting.
- The scandal served to utterly deplume the once-respected minister.
American English
- Farmers would deplume the turkeys by hand before the automated process was invented.
- The lawsuit threatened to deplume the corporation of its vast assets.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival form]
American English
- [No standard adjectival form]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- [Word too advanced for A2]
- [Word too advanced for B1]
- The bird was carefully deplumed after the examination.
- The journalist's exposé aimed to deplume the corrupt official of his ill-gotten prestige.
- Ancient texts describe how captives might be ritually deplumed as a sign of defeat.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DE-PLUME' – to remove the PLUMage/feathers.
Conceptual Metaphor
HONOUR/STATUS IS PLUMAGE (to be deplumed is to be stripped of external signs of status).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'деплой' (deploy). 'Deplume' is unrelated to military or software terminology.
- The Russian word 'оперить' means to feather; 'deplume' is its direct opposite.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with 'deploy'.
- Using it as a synonym for general 'damage' or 'hurt'.
- Misspelling as 'deploom'.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative, literary sense, 'to deplume someone' most closely means to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare word. You will most likely encounter it in historical, literary, or very specific technical (zoological) contexts.
Literally, it applies specifically to removing feathers from birds. Figuratively, it can be applied to people or institutions to mean stripping them of honours, wealth, or dignity.
'Deplumation' is the technical noun for the act of depluming.
In the literal sense, they are synonyms. 'Deplume' is more formal and technical. 'Pluck' is the everyday term. Only 'deplume' carries the established figurative meaning.