sickle feather: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowSpecialist/Term of art
Quick answer
What does “sickle feather” mean?
One of the long, curved tail feathers of a male domestic chicken, particularly a rooster.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One of the long, curved tail feathers of a male domestic chicken, particularly a rooster.
The term can also refer to any similarly curved, long feather in certain birds, often used in fly-tying (angling).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical and equally specialised in both varieties. No regional variation in meaning.
Connotations
Neutral technical term. Associated with rural life, farming, and specialist hobbies like fishing.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions, confined to niche contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sickle feather” in a Sentence
The [bird] has [number] sickle feathers.The [adjective] sickle feather is used for [purpose].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sickle feather” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The judge admired the bird's sickle-feather shape.
American English
- He selected a sickle-feather hackle for the fly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in ornithology, zoology, and agricultural science papers discussing poultry morphology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in poultry breeding standards, fly-tying for fishing lures, and avian taxonomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sickle feather”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sickle feather”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sickle feather”
- Using 'sickle feather' to refer to any wing feather.
- Pronouncing 'sickle' as /saɪkəl/ instead of /sɪkəl/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a specific term for the long, curved tail feathers of male chickens (roosters) and some other gallinaceous birds. It is not a general term for all bird feathers.
No. The term always refers to a type of feather. The name comes from its resemblance to the blade of a sickle (a farming tool), but it is not a tool itself.
A sickle feather is specifically the longest, most pronounced, and elegantly curved feather in a rooster's tail. Regular tail feathers are shorter and straighter.
It is essential vocabulary for poultry farmers, bird show judges, fly-fishing enthusiasts who tie their own flies, and ornithologists specializing in galliformes.
One of the long, curved tail feathers of a male domestic chicken, particularly a rooster.
Sickle feather is usually specialist/term of art in register.
Sickle feather: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪk(ə)l ˌfɛðə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪkəl ˌfɛðər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the curved blade of a SICKLE, then picture the similarly curved, long feather in a rooster's tail.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHAPE FOR OBJECT (The name derives entirely from the resemblance of the feather's curve to the agricultural tool).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'sickle feather' MOST commonly used?