plume vs rectrix

plume

noun
  • Things resembling a feather. 

  • The vane (“flattened, web-like part”) of a feather, especially when on a quill pen or the fletching of an arrow. 

  • More fully gill plume: a feathery gill of some crustaceans and molluscs. 

  • A token of honour or prowess; that on which one prides oneself; a prize or reward. 

  • The furry tail of certain dog breeds (such as the Samoyed) that curls over their backs or stands erect. 

  • A large and flexible panicle of an inflorescence resembling a feather, such as is seen in certain large ornamental grasses. 

  • An arc of glowing material (chiefly gases) erupting from the surface of a star. 

  • A cloud formed by a dispersed substance fanning out or spreading. 

  • An upward spray of mist or water. 

verb
  • To congratulate (oneself) proudly, especially concerning something unimportant or when taking credit for another person's effort; to self-congratulate. 

  • Of a dispersed substance such as dust or smoke: to fan out or spread in a cloud. 

  • Chiefly of a bird: to arrange and preen the feathers of, specifically in preparation for flight; hence (figurative), to prepare for (something). 

  • To adorn, cover, or furnish with feathers or plumes, or as if with feathers or plumes. 

rectrix

noun
  • A flight feather on the tails of birds, used for directional control. 

  • A governess; a rectoress. 

How often have the words plume and rectrix occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )