Plume, plōōm, n. a feather: a tuft of feathers: a feather worn as an ornament: a crest: a token of honour: a prize in a contest.—v.t. to dress the feathers of, as a bird: to adorn with plumes: to strip of feathers: to boast (used reflexively).—ns. Plumassier (plōō-ma-sēr′), one who prepares or deals in plumes; Plume′-bird, a term sometimes given to the Epimachidæ or long-tailed birds-of-Paradise.—adjs. Plumed, adorned with feathers; Plume′less.—n. Plume′let, a down-feather, a plumule: anything resembling a small plume.—adj. Plume′-plucked, stripped of plumes: (Shak.) humbled.—n. Plum′ery, a display of plumes.—adjs. Plumig′erous, plumaged; Plu′miped, having feathered feet.—n. Plu′mist, a feather-dresser.—adjs. Plu′mose, Plu′mous, feathery: plume-like; Plu′my, covered or adorned with plumes. [O. Fr.,—L. pluma, a small soft feather.]
Plummer, Plummery. See Plumber, Plumbery.
Plummet, plum′et, n. a weight of lead hung at a string, used for ascertaining the direction of the earth's attraction, and for sounding depths: a plumb-line. [O. Fr. plomet, dim. of plom, lead.]
Plump, plump, adv. falling straight downward (like lead): heavily: suddenly.—adj. downright: unqualified.—v.i. to fall or sink suddenly: to give all one's votes to one candidate where there are more than one to be elected.—v.t. to cause to fall suddenly.—n. (Scot.) a sudden downfall of rain.—n. Plump′er, a vote given to one candidate only when more than one are to be elected: one who so votes: (slang) a downright lie.—adv. Plump′ly, fully, without reserve. [Plumb.]
Plump, plump, adj. fat and rounded: sleek: in good condition.—v.i. to grow fat or plump: to swell.—v.t. to make plump: to fatten.—ns. Plump′er, a ball kept in the mouth to give the cheeks a rounded appearance; Plump′ness.—adj. Plump′y (Shak.), plump, fat. [Teut.; Dut. plomp, lumpish, Ger. plump.]
Plump, plump, n. a cluster: a clump (of persons or things).
Plumularia, plōō-mū-lā′ri-a, n. a genus of hydrozoa, belonging to the division hydroidea.—adj. Plumulā′rian. [L. plumula, a little feather.]
Plumule, plōō′mūl, n. (bot.) the first bud of a plant growing from seed, springing from between the cotyledons or seed leaves: a soft feather: a feathery scale on a butterfly's wing.—Also Plum′ula. [L. plumula, dim. of pluma, a feather.]
Plunder, plun′dėr, v.t. to seize the goods of another by force: to pillage.—n. that which is seized by force: booty: (U.S.) household goods.—ns. Plun′derage, the stealing of goods on board ship; Plun′derer.—adj. Plun′derous. [Ger. plündern, to pillage—plunder, trash, baggage; akin to Low Ger. plunnen, rags.]
Plunge, plunj, v.t. to cast suddenly into water or other fluid: to force suddenly (into): to immerse.—v.i. to sink suddenly into any fluid: to dive: to pitch suddenly forward and throw up the hind-legs, as a horse: to rush into any danger: (slang) to gamble recklessly.—n. act of plunging: act of rushing headlong, as a horse.—n. Plung′er, one who plunges: a diver: a long solid cylinder used as a forcer in pumps: (mil.) a cavalry-man: one who bets heavily.—adj. Plung′ing, rushing headlong: aimed from higher ground, as fire upon an enemy.—n. the putting or sinking under water, or other fluid: the act of a horse trying to throw its rider.—Plunge bath, a bath large enough to allow the whole body under water. [O. Fr. plonger—L. plumbum, lead.]