late 14c., "the feathery covering of birds; feathers collectively," from Old French plumage "plumage, appearance" (14c.), from plume (see plume (n.)). Related: Plumaged.
Entries linking to plumage
plume n.
late 14c., "a feather" (especially a large and conspicuous one), from Old French plume "soft feather, down; feather bed," and directly from Latin pluma "a small soft feather, down; the first beard," from PIE root *pleus- "to pluck; a feather, fleece" (source of Old English fleos "fleece"). Meaning "a long streamer of smoke, etc." is attested from 1878.