feather in one's cap

The placing of a feather in a hat has been a symbol of achievement that has arisen in several cultures, apparently independently. The English writer and traveller Richard Hansard recorded it in his Description of Hungary, 1599:

"It hath been an antient custom among them [Hungarians] that none should wear a fether but he who had killed a Turk, to whom onlie yt was lawful to shew the number of his slaine enemys by the number of fethers in his cappe."

The Native American tradition of adding a feather to the head-dress of any warrior who performed a brave act is well known.

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feather in one's cap (plural feathers in one's cap)

1. (idiomatic) An accomplishment; particularly one that is flaunted or boasted of.

   Synonyms: plume, notch in one's belt

   • 1736, Thomas Lediard, The Life of John, Duke of Marlborough, Prince of the Roman Empire:

     And contrary to his own Expectation, as well as that of every Body else, when he came to Court, the seven and twentieth of July, the Staff was taken from him, rather with mortifying, than agreeable Circumstances ; When a considerable Pension, or at least a Feather in his Cap, was the least that was expected for him.

   • 1961 November 10, Joseph Heller, “Major —— de Coverley”, in Catch-22 […], New York, N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, →OCLC, page 137:

     Everyone was elated with this turn of events, most of all Colonel Cathcart, who was convinced he had won a feather in his cap.

   • 2015, Dan Casey, 100 Things Avengers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die:

     However, one of the biggest feathers in Perez's cap is thanks to the 2003 crossover JLA/Avengers, a project nearly two decades in the making that was derailed by bureaucracy and bullheaded decision-making years prior.

   He thinks it is quite a feather in his cap that he figured it out for himself.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see feather,‎ cap.
   • 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church History of Belgium:

     He wore a feather in his cap, and wagg'd it too often.