Also swandown. [Cf. G. schwanendaune, Sw. svandun, Da. svanedun.]
1. The down or soft under-plumage of the swan, used for dress-trimmings, powder-puffs, etc.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. ii. 48. The Swannes downe feather That stands vpon the Swell at the full of Tide: And neither way inclines.
1807–26. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 208. It is usual to advise patients to keep the swelling covered with a piece of swan’s-down, or rabbit’s-skin, [etc.].
1835. Court Mag., VI. p. xiv/2. Others have, in addition to the knots, a row of swansdown on each side of the front.
1855. Longf., Hiaw., xvi. 193. With his plumes and tufts of swan’s-down.
1891. Doyle, White Company, xxiii. Swathed in swan’s-down and in ermine.
2. a. A soft thick close woollen cloth. b. A thick cotton cloth with a nap on one side, also called Canton or cotton flannel.
1801. Sporting Mag., XVII. 177. The blankets of the finest swansdown.
1824. Scott, St. Ronan’s, xv. If a gold-laced waistcoat has an empty pouch, the plain swan’s-down will be the brawer of the twa.
1877. J. W. Hayes, Draper & Haberdasher (ed. 4), 97. Swansdown is a loose thick make of white and unbleached calico, with a raised surface, like blankets.
1883. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Suppl., Swandown, a kind of twilled fustian, like moleskin.
3. attrib. (in sense 1 or 2).
1798. Hull Advertiser, 13 Oct., 2/2. Swansdown stocks.
1803. Censor, 1 April, 46. A common swandown waistcoat.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, s.v. Swan, Their skins enter into commerce for swans’-down trimmings.
1867. Ure, Dict. Arts, etc., III. 858. 500,000 puffs, made annually from about 7000 swans’ down skins, imported into Britain.
1877. Mar. M. Grant, Sun-maid, vii. He wrapped her in her swansdown mantle.
1885. Encycl. Brit., XVIII. 829/2. It is filtered through chamois leather or swansdown calico.
fig. 1880. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Rebel of Family, ii. (1901), 21. Her soft swan’s-down kind of nature soothed him.
