▪ I. ˈfeather-ˈedge, n.
[f. as prec. + edge.]
The fine edge of a board, etc. that thins off to one side, so as to resemble a wedge in section.
| 1785 Roy in Phil. Trans. LXXV. 396 A line..being brought to coincide with the feather edge. |
| attrib. 1616 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp., Canterb., For saing of fetheredg bourd. 1703 T. N. City & C. Purchaser 40 Feather-edge..a sort of Bricks..thinner at one edge, than they are at the other. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 160 Feather⁓edge, Boards, or Planks, that have one edge thinner than another are called Feather-edge stuff. 1874 Knight Dict. Mech., Feather-edge File, a file with an acute edge. 1883 Hendon Times 5 May 5/2 Quantity of shop-shutters, feather⁓edge boards, cupboard fronts. |
▪ II. ˈfeather-ˈedge, v.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To cut to a feather-edge, produce a thin edge upon. Also transf. to turn (oneself) sideways.
| 1799 J. Wilson Mission. Voy. S. Seas p. xlix, The planks being feather-edged, and lapped over. 1800 Herschel in Phil. Trans. XC. 306 The slip of wood at their back..was feather-edged towards the stove. 1854 Thoreau Walden i. 49 The boards were carefully feather-edged and lapped. 1890 W. C. Russell Ocean Trag. II. xxiv. 249 Tell your mad relative to feather-edge himself. He is all front. |