plūma (noun F) :
* A small, soft feather; in plur., fine, soft feathers, down.
* Lit. (clas.; syn. penna): (animantium) pluma alias, alias squamā videmus obductas,Cic. N. D. 2, 47, 121: plumae versicolores,id. Fin. 3, 5, 18: mollis,Verg. A. 10, 192: in plumis delituisse Jovem,i. e. in the form of a swan,Ov. H. 8, 68.—They were used esp. for stuffing pillows and the beds of litters: dormit in plumā,Mart. 12, 17, 8: pensilibus plumis vehi,i. e. in litters,Juv. 1, 159: in plumā paternā dormire,id. 6, 88. —Also in clothing: non avium plumae in usum vestium conseruntur?Sen. Ep. 90, 14.—As an image of lightness, triviality, insignificance, like feather with us: homo levior quam pluma,Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 23: levior plumā est gratia,id. Poen. 3, 6, 17: ipsi plumā aut folio facilius moventur,Cic. Att. 8, 15, 2: pluma haud interest, patronus, an cliens probior siet,there is not a pin to choose,Plaut. Most. 2, 1, 60.
* Transf.
* Of the first beard, down (poet.): insperata tuae cum veniet pluma superbiae,Hor. C. 4, 10, 2.
* The scales on a coat of mail, Stat. Th. 11, 542; cf.: equus, quem pellis aënis In plumam squamis auro conserta tegebat,i. e. scales of brass overlaid on a skin,Verg. A. 11, 771 Serv. and Heyn. ad loc.: equis operimenta erant, quae lintea ferreis laminis in modum plumae adnexuerant,Sall. H. 4, 59 Dietsch.

s. TLL