plumule

 
Pronunciation: /ˈpluːmjuːl/

noun

  • 1 Botany the rudimentary shoot or stem of an embryo plant.
  • 2 Ornithology a bird’s down feather, numbers of which form an insulating layer under the contour feathers.

Origin:

early 18th century: from French plumule or Latin plumula 'small feather', diminutive of pluma 'down'