Category:Quill

Quill, n. Etym: [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. (zoöl.) (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 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.