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

Then the fisher neatly skins the prickly prey, eating most everything except the quills and bones.

From Science News

This is the first time that such a structure, which looks like the barb of a feather fanning off the central quill, has been spotted in the Milky Way.

From Science News

Pad & Quill just unveiled its new leather AirTag case known as The Jimmy.

From TechCrunch

The rumor that porcupines can shoot or throw their quills at aggressors is only a legend, but there’s no need to test that out for yourself.

From Popular-Science

When threatened, porcupines release a strong odor meant to warn predators that quills are about to be deployed.

From Popular-Science

Guardians centers on Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), an intergalactic smuggler who swipes an orb.

From The Daily Beast

The second feature involves a quill and inkwell that will also be featured on the front of the note.

From The Daily Beast

“Both the quill and the inkwell are copper until you move the note,” said Lambert.

From The Daily Beast

Edmund Morgan liked, especially, to teach his students how to make and sharpen a quill.

From The Daily Beast

Most of West Plains learned the news from the front-page article in The Quill on March 21.

From The Daily Beast

The only addition made to it when in use is the insertion of a quill or straw as a mouth-piece.

From Project Gutenberg

I may be a weak old fool, but I won't have them sold down there with quill wheels and warming-pans!

From Project Gutenberg

For a pen she would catch a goose, pluck a quill, and ask Billy to cut it.

From Project Gutenberg

The swish of a skirt seemed ridiculously loud in the hush, and the scratching of the judge's quill pen was noisily irritating.

From Project Gutenberg

The pen (calamus) was made of a reed brought to a point and cleft much as our quill pens are.

From Project Gutenberg