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__ / \\ - - Head |____| / \\ / \\ / - - Skirt / \\ /____________\\For most casual players, this has been replaced by a shuttlecock made using a plastic head and skirt.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