eiderdown

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Under the eiderdown was a snowy light counterpane.

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Definitions (5)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun The down of the eider duck, used as stuffing for quilts and pillows.
  2. noun A quilt stuffed with the down of the eider duck.
  3. noun A warm napped fabric.

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Examples (50)

  • She blew out the candle and sank gently under the eiderdown, which was as white as snow Snow covered the Chalk. —  Wintersmith
  • For some moments he stood staring in front of him at the tapestry-hung brass railings beyond the expanse of eiderdown, and he turned and surveyed the rest of the room. —  Police at the Funeral - Margery Allingham - Campion 04: 1931
  • She said, ‘Blast!’ jumped out of bed, turned back to snatch the eiderdown, and groped her way to the little hall, where she put on the light. —  The Ivory Dagger - Patricia WentworthMiss Silver 19
  • She stopped bothering about the draught under the front door or whether the eiderdown was slipping. —  The Ivory Dagger - Patricia WentworthMiss Silver 19
  • The eiderdown was on and a chintz coverlet over it. —  The Alington Inheritance - Patricia Wentworth - Miss Silver 31
 

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This word has been looked up 63 times.

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Etymologies (1)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Swedish ejderdun, from Icelandic ædhar-dún : ædhar, genitive of ædhr, eider (from Old Norse ǣdhr) + dún, down (from Old Norse dūnn).
 

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