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quill

quill

NounTransitive Verb

pl: quillspast: quilledpp: quilleding: quilling

The term evokes a sense of antiquity and craftsmanship, particularly when referring to writing instruments. It carries a tactile quality of stiffness and sharpness, whether describing the organic tool of a scribe or the defensive armor of an animal.

In artistic contexts, the word shifts from a physical object to a specialized technique. Paper quilling is a distinct craft involving the manipulation of strips, while in leatherwork, it refers to a specific method of structural decoration.

Meanings

Nounquill

A large, stiff feather from a bird's wing or tail, especially one used as a pen.

He dipped the quill into the inkwell.

Nounquill

A sharp, stiff hair or spine found on the skin of certain animals, such as porcupines, used for defense.

The porcupine raised its quills when it felt threatened.

Transitive Verbquill

[~ something]

To provide an animal or object with quills or quill-like spines.

The evolutionary process served to quill the species for protection.

Examples

The quill is white.

A quill is sharp.

I have a quill.

He wrote a letter with a quill.

The porcupine has many quills.

She held the quill carefully.

The scribe used a goose quill to copy the manuscript.

History

Watch out for the quills on that animal.

Trivia

The royal decree was signed with a golden quill.

Fantasy

Ancient scholars relied on the quill for recording knowledge.

History

Nature evolved to quill certain mammals for survival.

Trivia

The museum displays a quill used by the founding fathers.

History

Related Words

pen stylus spine feather goose ink inkwell calligraphy parchment scribe writing porcupine hedgehog keratin plumage bird wing shaft barb calamus manuscript script letter stationery

Last Updated: May 2026•Report an Error