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).

       __
      /  \\ - - Head
     |____|             
     /    \\  
    /      \\   
   /         - - 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For most casual players, this has been replaced by a shuttlecock made using a plastic head and skirt.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.