/fedh"euhr wayt'/ , n.
1. a boxer or other contestant intermediate in weight between a bantamweight and a lightweight, esp. a professional boxer weighing up to 126 lb. (57 kg).
2. an insignificant person or thing: He thinks he's a major composer, but he's just a featherweight.
adj.
3. belonging to the class of featherweights, esp. in boxing.
4. extremely light in weight: a featherweight quilt.
5. unimportant; trifling; slight.
[ 1805-15; FEATHER + WEIGHT ]