eiderdown
C1formal/literary
Definition
Meaning
A thick, warm quilt filled with soft duck down.
The soft, fine down from the eider duck, used as stuffing for quilts and pillows; by extension, the quilt or duvet itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word specifically refers to down from the eider duck, prized for its exceptional insulation, but is often used generically for any high-quality down quilt.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in UK English; US speakers are more likely to use 'comforter' or 'duvet'.
Connotations
UK: Connotes traditional luxury, warmth, and possibly an older-fashioned bedroom. US: Sounds distinctly British or old-fashioned.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but higher recognition and occasional use in UK.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive] eiderdowneiderdown made of [material]eiderdown stuffed with [filling]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly featuring 'eiderdown']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in niche contexts like luxury bedding retail.
Academic
Might appear in historical, textile, or ornithological texts.
Everyday
Used in descriptions of home furnishings, especially in the UK.
Technical
Used in ornithology and the textile/feather processing industry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The eiderdown pillow was incredibly soft.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My bed has a warm eiderdown.
- She pulled the heavy eiderdown up to her chin on the cold night.
- The antique eiderdown, filled with genuine goose down, was a family heirloom.
- The luxury hotel boasted beds adorned with Egyptian cotton sheets and Hungarian eiderdown duvets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
EIDER ducks live in cold climates, so their DOWN is perfect for a warm EIDERDOWN quilt.
Conceptual Metaphor
WARMTH IS SOFTNESS / LUXURY IS NATURAL INSULATION
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: 'eiderdown' is not 'пуховик' (a padded jacket). It is specifically a bed quilt ('пуховое одеяло').
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'eiderdown' often misspelled as 'iderdown' or 'eiderdawn'.
- Using it as a synonym for any blanket or throw.
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'eiderdown' primarily?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar. 'Eiderdown' specifically refers to the filling (eider duck down) or a quilt filled with it. 'Duvet' is a more general term for a soft quilt filled with down, feathers, or synthetic fibers.
Yes, though rare. It can describe something made from or resembling eiderdown, e.g., 'an eiderdown pillow'.
Eider ducks pluck their own down to line their nests, which is collected by hand in a sustainable manner. The process is labor-intensive and the down is exceptionally light and insulating.
Eiderdown comes from the eider duck and has particularly fine, lightweight filaments with high 'loft' (fluffiness). It is often considered the most luxurious and expensive type of down.