Was nervous about article covered in plumage (9)
I believe the answer is:
feathered
'covered in plumage' is the definition.
'feathered' can be an answer for 'covered' (feathering is a kind of covering). I am unsure of the 'in plumage' bit.
'was nervous about article' is the wordplay.
'was nervous' becomes 'feared' (being nervous can mean being afraid).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'article' becomes 'the' (the definite article in English).
'feared' placed around 'the' is 'FEATHERED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for feathered that I've seen before include "Like bird" , "like a tumbler?" , "Birds are described as fine . . . . . . . . . friends" , "head of dodo, thus?" .)