quill

[kwil] /kwɪl/
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)
12.
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.
13.
to penetrate with, or as if with, a quill or quills.
14.
to extract a quill or quills from:
to quill a duck before cooking it.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English quil; compare Low German quiele, German Kiel
Related forms
quill-like, adjective
Examples from the web for quill
  • Reflection, in a time of instant messaging, seems as quaint as the quill pen and the flickering of candles.
  • Sea pens are so called for their resemblance to old-fashioned quill pens.
  • When you get to your seat in this beautiful courtroom, there is a handmade goose quill pen waiting for you at your seat.
  • She is writing a letter, her hand tracking a quill across a sheet of paper.
  • The hand bones show quill nodes for the attachment of primary feathers.
  • Form the pen point by cutting the fat end of the quill on an angle, curving the cut slightly.
  • The quill is carefully lowered to the lap and contact is made.
British Dictionary definitions for quill

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 (transitive)
10.
to wind (thread, yarn, etc) onto a spool or bobbin
11.
to make or press fluted folds in (a ruff)
Word Origin
C15 (in the sense: hollow reed or pipe): of uncertain origin; compare Middle Low German quiele quill
Word Origin and History for quill
n.

c.1400, "piece of reed or hollow stem of a feather," probably related to Middle High German kil "quill," from Low German quiele, of unknown origin. Meaning "pen made from a (goose) quill" is from 1550s; that of "porcupine spine" is from c.1600.

quill in Science
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.


Slang definitions & phrases for quill

quill

noun

A folded matchbook cover used to hold heroin or cocaine for sniffing (1960s+ Narcotics)


Encyclopedia Article for quill

hollow, horny barrel of a bird's feather, used as the principal writing instrument from the 6th century until the mid-19th century, when steel pen points were introduced. The strongest quills were obtained from living birds in their new growth period in the spring. Only the five outer wing feathers (follicles) were considered suitable for writing; the second and third were especially preferred. Quills from the left wing were favoured because the feathers curve outward and away from a right-handed writer.

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