Definition of "spadone"

Burglary.—On Monday night or early on Tuesday morning, some thieves effected an entrance into the premises of Mr. W. J. Laybourne, ostrich feather manufacturer, 60, St. John-street, West Smithfield, and carried off 1,000 prime white feathers, 500 long single black, 800 double ditto, 3,000 mixed colours, 500 spadones, 300 white plumes, 300 coloured boos, and 400 long white light feminas, which, with other property, were valued at about £4,000.

1877 June 15, The Leeds Mercury, volume 114, number 12,225, Leeds, West Yorkshire, page 2, column 5

Spadones, per pound .......$2 to $50 […] The whites and blacks come from the male birds, the feminas and drabs from the female, the spadones are the first clipping taken from the young birds and the tails from each.

1910 October 30, The Arizona Republican, volume XXI, number 161, Phoenix, Ariz., page 9

The feminas brought from $97.35 to $109.50, while spadones were sacrificed at from $34 to $47.45.

1912 July 17, The Boston Daily Globe, volume LXXXII, number 17, Boston, Mass., page 16, column 5