Cambridge 16 (General Training) | Test 3 | Section 3

Feathers as Decoration in European History

Today, we do not generally associate feathers with the militaryin Europe, yet history shows that in fact feathers have played an intriguing role in European military clothing. The Bersaglieri of the Italian Army, for example, still wear a bunch of long black feathers in their hats hanging down to one side, while British fusiliers have a clipped feather plume whose color varies according to their regiment. The Royalists in the English Civil War adorned their headgear with ostrich feathers. “Historically, feathers were an incredibly expressive accessory for men,” observes Cambridge historian, Professor Ulinka Rublack. “Nobody has really looked at why this was the case. That’s a story that I want to tell.”

feather (noun) [countable]

/ˈfeðər/

one of the many soft light parts covering a bird’s body

e.g., Do you prefer a feather pillow or a foam pillow?

adorn (verb) [transitive]

/əˈdɔːrn/

to make something/somebody look more attractive by decorating it or them with something

e.g., The bride's hair was adorned with white flowers.

ostrich (noun) [countable]

/ˈɑːstrɪtʃ/

a verylarge African bird with a long neck and long legs, that cannot fly but can run very fast

e.g., The ostrich is the fastest animal on two legs.