favour [ME] The early sense was ‘liking, preference’. It comes via Old French from Latin favor, from favere ‘show kindness to’. In the late 16th century, a favour was something given as a sign of preference, a gift as a token of affection. An example of this is the favour worn conspicuously by knights. Sometimes a ribbon or cockade worn at a ceremony such as at a wedding or coronation was known as a favour too. The feather in your cap [M17th] would originally have been a favour.