Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock is a projectile used in the sport of Badminton. Traditionally, a shuttlecock is made from a head of cork and a skirt of overlapping goose feathers (See diagram).
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/ \\ - - Head
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/ \\
/ \\
/ - - Skirt
/ \\
/____________\\
For most casual players, this has been replaced by a shuttlecock made using a plastic head and skirt. The feather shuttlecock is still used by "serious" players and for competitions.