Definitions for: Quill


[n] a stiff hollow protective spine on a porcupine or hedgehog
[n] the hollow shaft of a feather
[n] any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird
[n] pen made from a bird's feather



Webster (1913) Definition: Quill, n. (Pharm.)
A roll of dried bark; as, a quill of cinnamon or of cinchona.


Quill, n. [Perhaps fr. F. quille ninepin (see
Kayless); but cf. also G. kiel a quill. MHG. kil, and Ir.
cuille a quill.]
1. One of the large feathers of a bird's wing, or one of the
rectrices of the tail; also, the stock of such a feather.

2. A pen for writing made by sharpening and splitting the
point or nib of the stock of a feather; as, history is the
proper subject of his quill. --Sir H. Wotton.

3. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A spine of the hedgehog or porcupine.
(b) The pen of a squid. See Pen.

4. (Mus.)
(a) The plectrum with which musicians strike the strings
of certain instruments.
(b) The tube of a musical instrument.

He touched the tender stops of various quills.
--Milton.

5. Something having the form of a quill; as:
(a) The fold or plain of a ruff.
(b) (Weaving) A spindle, or spool, as of reed or wood,
upon which the thread for the woof is wound in a
shuttle.
(c) (Mach.) A hollow spindle.

Quill bit, a bit for boring resembling the half of a reed
split lengthways and having its end sharpened like a
gouge.

Quill driver, one who works with a pen; a writer; a clerk.
[Jocose]

Quill nib, a small quill pen made to be used with a holder.
--Simmonds.


Quill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Quilled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Quilling.]
1. To plaint in small cylindrical ridges, called quillings;
as, to quill a ruffle.

His cravat seemed quilled into a ruff. --Goldsmith.

2. To wind on a quill, as thread or yarn. --Judd.

Synonyms: calamus, flight feather, pinion, quill feather, quill pen, shaft

See Also: Erinaceus europaeus, Erinaceus europeaeus, feather, hedgehog, pen, plumage, plume, porcupine, primary, primary feather, primary quill, rib, spine, tail feather, wing

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