• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / What does the phrase “a feather in one’s cap” mean and How did it originate?

What does the phrase “a feather in one’s cap” mean and How did it originate?

April 20, 2020 by Karen Hill

To tell Johnny, “That’s quite a feather in your cap,” is to compliment him upon an achievement; he has done something to be proud of.

Five or six centuries ago the expression was a literal statement; a man who had gained a distinction, especially upon the battlefield, actually wore a feather in his cap, or his helmet, as a token of his prowess.

Later, presumably beginning in England during the reign of Henry IV, or early in the fifteenth century, any member of the English nobility was assumed to be a person of distinction, and feathers on the headgear, especially ostrich feathers, became a usual part of the costume of a nobleman.

It is said that the hunter’s custom of taking a feather from the first bird slain in the hunting season and sticking it in one’s cap gave rise to the saying. This may have been a Continental custom, but literary evidence fails to show its early use in England.

It seems more probable that the English origin of the phrase came from an early deed of valor of Edward, “the Black Prince,” son of Edward III The young prince, who was only sixteen at the time, won his spurs in the historic Battle of Crecy, in 1346, when the English forces seemed to be so hopelessly outnumbered, nineteen thousand English and Welsh soldiers again sixty thousand French and allied forces.

Young Edward greatly distinguished himself in the battle, and after the English victory he is said to have been awarded the crest of John, King of Bohemia, who was one of the illustrious French allies slain in the fight. This crest consisted of three ostrich feathers, and thenceforth became the badge of each succeeding Prince of Wales.

From such royal precedent it is logical that subsequent valorous deeds would receive similar decorations.

Related Facts

  • How Did the Phrase "I'll Be Hanged If I Do and Hanged If I Don't" Originate and What Does the Expression Mean?
  • How Did the Expression "Rise and Shine" Originate and What Does the Phrase "Shake a Leg" Mean?
  • What Does the Expression "Spick and Span" Mean and How Did the Phrase Originate?
  • What does the phrase "hue and cry" mean and Where did it originate?
  • What does the phrase "the whole kit and caboodle" mean and Where did it originate?
  • How did the phrase "Rule of Thumb" originate and did it mean the Maximum Thickness of a Stick a Man could use to Beat his Wife?
  • Where does the phrase "all wool and a yard wide" originate and What does it mean?
  • How Did the Expression "Having Kittens" Originate for a Hysterical Woman and What Does the Phrase Mean?
  • What Does the Expression "Second String" Mean and How Did the Phrase Originate?
  • What Does the Expression "Duking it Out" Mean and How Did the Phrase Originate?
  • How Did the Expression "Turn the Tables" Originate and What Does the Phrase Mean?
  • What Does the Expression "Lame Duck" Mean and How Did the Phrase Originate For Politicians?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What does the expression “at loggerheads” mean and Where does it come from?
Next Post: What does the expression “to be on the beam” mean and Where does it come from? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy