'Quill' definitions:

Definition of 'quill'

(from WordNet)
noun
Pen made from a bird's feather [syn: quill, quill pen]
noun
A stiff hollow protective spine on a porcupine or hedgehog
noun
Any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird [syn: flight feather, pinion, quill, quill feather]
noun
The hollow spine of a feather [syn: quill, calamus, shaft]

Definition of 'Quill'

From: GCIDE
  • Quill \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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Zool.) (a) A spine of the hedgehog or porcupine. (b) The pen of a squid. See Pen. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mus.) (a) The plectrum with which musicians strike the strings of certain instruments. (b) The tube of a musical instrument. [1913 Webster]
  • He touched the tender stops of various quills. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Pharm.) A roll of dried bark; as, a quill of cinnamon or of cinchona. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Quill'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • His cravat seemed quilled into a ruff. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To wind on a quill, as thread or yarn. --Judd. [1913 Webster]