What is the Latin word for downy?

The usual Latin words for “downy” are plūmeus, plūmōsus, lānūginōsus; also herba, folium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“downy” in Latin

plūmeusdowny, covered with down; soft, light, delicate; embroidered plūmōsusfeathered, covered with feathers; downy lānūginōsuswoolly, downy herbagrass, herbage; herb; weeds foliuma leaf (including a conifer's needle); a petal; a sheet or leaf of paper

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

downy

plumeus (like down): plumosus (covered with much down): lanuginosus (of plants, herba, folium): Very downy (of a plant, etc.), multa et molli lanugine obductus.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for downy?: The usual Latin words for “downy” are plūmeus, plūmōsus, lānūginōsus; also herba, folium. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.