feather one's (own) nest

Definition of feather one's (own) nest

  1. :  to make oneself richer in a dishonest or improper way :  to do things to increase one's own wealth, comfort, etc. She was accused of feathering her own nest with the company's money.

Word by Word Definitions

  1. :  any of the light, horny, epidermal outgrowths that form the external covering of the body of birds Feathers include the smaller down feathers and the larger contour and flight feathers. Larger feathers consist of a shaft (rachis ) bearing branches (barbs ) which bear smaller branches (barbules ). These smaller branches bear tiny hook-bearing processes (barbicels ) which interlock with the barbules of an adjacent barb to link the barbs into a continuous stiff vane . Down feathers lack barbules, resulting in fluffy feathers which provide insulation below the contour feathers.

    :  plume

    :  the vane of an arrow

  1. :  to furnish (as an arrow) with a feather

    :  to cover, clothe, or adorn with or as if with feathers


  1. : used to express immediate or direct kinship

  1. :  to have or hold as property :  possess

    :  to have power or mastery over


  1. :  a bed or receptacle prepared by an animal and especially a bird for its eggs and young

    :  a place or specially modified structure serving as an abode of animals and especially of their immature stages

    :  a receptacle resembling a bird's nest

  1. :  to build or occupy a nest :  settle in or as if in a nest

    :  to fit compactly together or within one another :  embed

    :  to form a nest for

Seen and Heard

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a dividing ridge between drainage areas

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