thistledown

[ this-uh l-doun ]

/ ˈθɪs əlˌdaʊn /

the mature, silky pappus of a thistle.

Origin of thistledown

First recorded in 1555–65; thistle + down²

Her mind yielded to an entirely new sensation, as a fluff of thistledown is lightly blown about.

Patty's Perversities |Arlo Bates
A movement light as thistledown seemed to have caught his ear.

The Black Opal |Katharine Susannah Prichard
She says she came to earth like a piece of thistledown on the other side.

Susan Clegg and Her Love Affairs |Anne Warner
It was the village Jester capering along the path as if the world were thistledown and every day a holiday.

The Jester's Sword |Annie Fellows Johnston

“They roll along with the lightness of thistledown across a green field,” declared Tad enthusiastically, speaking to himself.

The Pony Rider Boys in Alaska |Frank Gee Patchin

thistledown

/ (ˈθɪsəlˌdaʊn) /

the mass of feathery plumed seeds produced by a thistle

anything resembling this