Plu"mule (?), n. [L. plumula,
dim. of pluma a feather; cf. F. plumule.]
1. (Bot.) The first bud, or gemmule, of a
young plant; the bud, or growing point, of the embryo, above the
cotyledons. See Illust. of Radicle.
Gray.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A
down feather. (b) The aftershaft of a
feather. See Illust. under Feather.
(c) One of the featherlike scales of certain male
butterflies.