Plain English Meaning

A propeller whose blades can be turned edge-on to the airflow so they slice through the air instead of pushing against it. This stops the propeller from spinning and dramatically reduces drag when an engine has failed or been shut down.

Full Definition

A propeller whose blades can be rotated to a position where their leading edges face directly into the relative wind, producing minimum drag and stopping rotation when an engine is shut down in flight. Feathering propellers are found primarily on multi-engine airplanes and turboprops, where the ability to streamline a stopped propeller is essential to maintaining controllable flight after an engine failure.

Context Anchor

Seen during before-takeoff checks on airplanes equipped with propellers that can change , especially two-engine airplanes.