Where does the phrase 'spitting feathers' come from

A. As ssmart has suggested, the phrase 'spitting feathers' quite possibly derives from being rendered speechless with anger, rather like Donald Duck. But how else do we use feathers in sayings Here are a few examples:

You can feather...
...an oar - when you turn the blade of an oar 45 degrees, parallel with the water, to move it over the water ready for the next stroke; so called because of the feathery spray thrown off the oar
...your nest - usually derogatory, and referring to providing for oneself, most often financially, rather as birds will often line their nests with their own feathers
...-bed - to pamper

You can put a feather in your cap - denoting something to be proud of. Putting a feather in your headgear seems to have been a custom common to many peoples, from American Indians and the ancient Lycians of Asia Minor - who both used feathers to mark the killing of an enemy - to the hunter who kills the first wood-cock of the season, it has been a sign of achievement, and even used as a badge of rank.

You can be...
...knocked down with a feather - to be overcome with surprise
...in full feather - to be in good spirits
...as light as a feather - much as it sounds, really
...a featherweight - something or someone very light; in professional boxing this denotes someone between 53.5 and 57kg (118-126lb)
...tarred and feathered - stripped, daubed with tar and covered with feathers as a punishment

You can...
...show the white feather - to show cowardice, after cockfighting lore, where a white feather in a gamebird's tail was considered the sign of degenerate stock
...make the feathers fly - like making the fur fly, to cause a ruckus, physically or otherwise
...smooth your ruffled feathers - recover your poise after being insulted or doing something undignified

And...
...birds of a feather flock together - people of a similar interest or disposition will stick together
...fine feathers make fine birds - someone inappropriately or fancily dressed, and not carrying it off well

If you can think of any more ways to slip a feather into the conversation, let us know

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By Simon Smith