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For most casual players, this has been replaced by a shuttlecock made using a plastic head and skirt.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.