\Plume\, n. [F., fr. L. pluma. Cf. {Fly}, v.]
1. A feather; esp., a soft, downy feather, or a long,
   conspicuous, or handsome feather.
         Wings . . . of many a colored plume.  --Milton.
2. (Zo["o]l.) An ornamental tuft of feathers.
3. A feather, or group of feathers, worn as an ornament; a
   waving ornament of hair, or other material resembling
   feathers.
         His high plume, that nodded o'er his head. --Dryden.
4. A token of honor or prowess; that on which one prides
   himself; a prize or reward. ``Ambitious to win from me
   some plume.'' --Milton.
5. (Bot.) A large and flexible panicle of inflorescence
   resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large
   ornamental grasses.
{Plume bird} (Zo["o]l.), any bird that yields ornamental
   plumes, especially the species of Epimarchus from New
   Guinea, and some of the herons and egrets, as the white
   heron of Florida ({Ardea candidissima}).
{Plume grass}. (Bot)
   (a) A kind of grass ({Erianthus saccharoides}) with the
       spikelets arranged in great silky plumes, growing in
       swamps in the Southern United States.
   (b) The still finer {E. Ravenn[ae]} from the Mediterranean
       region. The name is sometimes extended to the whole
       genus.
{Plume moth} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous small, slender
   moths, belonging to the family {Pterophorid[ae]}. Most of
   them have the wings deeply divided into two or more
   plumelike lobes. Some species are injurious to the
   grapevine.
{Plume nutmeg} (Bot.), an aromatic Australian tree
   ({Atherosperma moschata}), whose numerous carpels are
   tipped with long plumose persistent styles.

\Plume\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Plumed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Pluming}.] [Cf. F. plumer to pluck, to strip, L. plumare to
cover with feathers.]
1. To pick and adjust the plumes or feathers of; to dress or
   prink.
         Pluming her wings among the breezy bowers. --W.
                                               Irving.
2. To strip of feathers; to pluck; to strip; to pillage;
   also, to peel. [Obs.] --Bacon. Dryden.
3. To adorn with feathers or plumes. ``Farewell the plumed
   troop.'' --Shak.
4. To pride; to vaunt; to boast; -- used reflexively; as, he
   plumes himself on his skill. --South.
{Plumed adder} (Zo["o]l.), an African viper ({Vipera, or
   Clotho cornuta}), having a plumelike structure over each
   eye. It is venomous, and is related to the African puff
   adder. Called also {horned viper} and {hornsman}.
{Plumed partridge} (Zo["o]l.), the California mountain quail
   ({Oreortyx pictus}). See {Mountain quail}, under
   {Mountain}.