Feathers (1)

새의 깃털에 대한 표현은 깃털 수 만큼 많을 듯하다. 예전에 사냥꾼이나 인디언들은 표적을 맞히면 모자나 머리장식에 깃털을 꽂았으며 영국의 왕족은 높은 신분의 표시로 화려한 깃털모자를 썼다. 그래서 feather in one's cap은 명예스러운 일을 뜻하게 되었다.

A bird needs a great many feathers to cover its body and keep it warm and dry. And there seem to be almost as many expressions using the word '' as there are feathers on a bird.

One expression is an ancient one, but still is popular. To have a "feather in one's cap' is an honor today, just as it was six-hundred years ago. Then, the story goes, a solider added a feather to his hat or cap for each enemy soldier he killed.
  


다락원 刊 'Voice of America'에서 발췌한 내용입니다.