[plume] n [ME, fr. MF, fr. L pluma small soft feather--more at fleece] (14c) 1: a feather of a bird: as a: a large conspicuous or showy feather b: contour feather c: plumage d: a cluster of distinctive feathers
2. a: material (as a feather, cluster of feathers, or a tuft of hair) worn as an ornament b: a token of honor or prowess: prize
3: something resembling a feather (as in shape, appearance, or lightness): as a: a plumose appendage of a plant b: an elongated and usu. open and mobile column or band (as of smoke, exhaust gases, or blowing snow) c: an animal structure having a main shaft bearing many hairs or filamentous parts; esp: a full bushy tail
[2]plume vt plumed ; plum.ing (15c) 1 a: to provide or deck with feathers b: to array showily
2: to indulge (oneself) in pride with an obvious or vain display of self-satisfaction 3 of a bird a: to preen and arrange the feathers of (itself) b: to preen and arrange (feathers)