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Definition of penna

penna

/ˈpɛn.ə/
pen · na
Plural:pennae
•
Adjective:pennaceous
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penna Lexical Profile

penna Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A contour feather of a bird, possessing a stiff central shaft and firm, interlocking vanes, as distinguished from soft down feathers.

Example

"Under the microscope, the ornithologist examined the interlocking barbs of the eagle's penna to study its aerodynamic properties."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for penna
Antonyms
View all antonyms for penna

Word Nuance & Usage

Typically restricted to technical ornithological contexts; everyday usage strongly favors the general term 'feather'.

• Rhymes for penna

• Nearby Words

penlight
penlike
penmanship
penna
penna river
pennant
pennar

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'penna', meaning 'feather' or 'wing', deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root '*pet-' meaning 'to rush' or 'to fly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Penna. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/penna
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