quill

[ kwil ]

noun

1. one of the large feathers of the wing or tail of a bird.
2. the hard, hollow, basal part of a feather.
3. a feather, as of a goose, formed into a pen for writing.
4. one of the hollow spines on a porcupine or hedgehog.
5. a plectrum of a harpsichord.
6. a roll of bark, as of cinnamon, formed in drying.
7. a reed or other hollow stem on which yarn is wound.
8. a bobbin or spool.
9. a toothpick.
10. Machinery.
    1. a hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft may pass.
    2. a shaft, joined to and supported by two other shafts or machines, for transmitting motion from one to the other.
    3. a rotating toolholder used in boring or facing internal angles.
11. a musical pipe, especially one made from a hollow reed.

verb (used with object)

1. Textiles.
   1. to arrange (fabric) in flutes or cylindrical ridges, as along the edge of a garment, hem, etc.
   2. to wind on a quill, as yarn.
2. to penetrate with, or as if with, a quill or quills.
3. to extract a quill or quills from:

   to quill a duck before cooking it.

quill

/ kwɪl /

noun

1. 1. any of the large stiff feathers of the wing or tail of a bird
   2. the long hollow central part of a bird's feather; calamus
2. a bird's feather made into a pen for writing
3. any of the stiff hollow spines of a porcupine or hedgehog
4. a device, formerly usually made from a crow quill, for plucking a harpsichord string
5. angling a length of feather barb stripped of barbules and used for the body of some artificial flies
6. a small roll of bark, esp one of dried cinnamon
7. (in weaving) a bobbin or spindle
8. a fluted fold, as in a ruff
9. a hollow shaft that rotates upon an inner spindle or concentrically about an internal shaft

verb

1. to wind (thread, yarn, etc) onto a spool or bobbin
2. to make or press fluted folds in (a ruff)

quill

/ kwĭl /

1. The hollow shaft of a feather, the bottom of which attaches to the bird's skin.
2. One of the sharp hollow spines of a porcupine or hedgehog.

Other Words From

• quill-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quill¹

1375–1425; late Middle English quil; compare Low German quiele, German Kiel

Word History and Origins

Origin of quill¹

C15 (in the sense: hollow reed or pipe): of uncertain origin; compare Middle Low German quiele quill

Example Sentences

Written using quill and ink, the letter dated 4 September 1892 reveals the names of three engineers who installed a new type of light in the 30ft tower.

From BBC

South American porcupines are equipped with a menacing coat of hollow, overlapping quills, which offer a substantial amount of protection but do little to regulate body temperature.

From Science Daily

There he poked the quill into the soft, rotting wood of his floor, where it stood erect, a sort of talisman.

From Literature

And so I filled my inkwell, put a quill pen to my chin and cried, “A playlist is in order!”

From New York Times

A new quill assembly design is being finalized and testing of a prototype should begin early next year, it said.

From Seattle Times