[f. as prec. + WORK.] a. The art of working in feathers; also concr. (see quot. 1882). b. = FEATHER-STITCH.

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  a.  1665.  J. Webb, Stone-Heng (1725), 217. Their Curiosity in Feather-works was such, that it surpasseth all Credit and Belief.

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1707.  Funnell, Voy., v. 113. The Natives … are very expert in Feather-work.

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1784.  Mrs. Montagu, Let., 3 Feb., in Lady of last Cent. (Doran, 1873), 326. My great piece of feather-work is not yet compleated.

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1843.  Prescott, Mexico (1850), I. 32. Cotton dresses, and mantles of featherwork, exquisitely made.

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1882.  Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, Feather Work.—This consists of covering buckram or other stiff foundations with birds’ feathers, arranged in designs, and sewn entirely over the foundation.

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  b.  1872.  O. Shipley, Gloss. Eccl. Terms, 339. A certain kind of needlework is called in ancient inventories ‘opus plumarium’ or feather-work, from the way the stitches overlie each other like the feathers on a bird.

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  attrib.  1864.  Sala, in Daily Tel., 23 Dec. That wondrously variegated featherwork tapestry which the old Aztecs used to work such marvels in.

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