Defeathered

To defeather is to remove the feathers from something, most commonly a bird, either by plucking, scalding, or chemical means. This process often prepares poultry for consumption, removing the plumage to reveal the skin. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe the stripping away of any superficial covering or ornamentation, revealing a more basic or vulnerable state. The act of defeathering implies a loss of protection or a change in appearance.

Defeathered meaning with examples

• The farmer spent the morning defeathering the chickens, preparing them for the market. The precise technique involved scalding the birds to loosen the feathers, making the plucking process significantly easier and faster to prepare the meal.
• After the storm, the bird, once vibrant, was found defeathered and huddled, its exposed skin a sign of trauma. The elements had stripped away its natural protection, leaving it vulnerable to the cold and rain.
• The sculptor decided to defeather the angel, eliminating the cliché image of wings for a new minimalistic approach to her art. Defeathering allowed them to make the sculpture more modern and stark.
• The company, facing scrutiny, was accused of defeathering its public image to look clean of previous actions by removing past marketing and advertising efforts. Defeathering was intended to reduce public scrutiny.