quill
one of the large feathers of the wing or tail of a bird.
the hard, hollow, basal part of a feather.
a feather, as of a goose, formed into a pen for writing.
one of the hollow spines on a porcupine or hedgehog.
a plectrum of a harpsichord.
a roll of bark, as of cinnamon, formed in drying.
a reed or other hollow stem on which yarn is wound.
a bobbin or spool.
a toothpick.
Machinery.
a hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft may pass.
a shaft, joined to and supported by two other shafts or machines, for transmitting motion from one to the other.
a rotating toolholder used in boring or facing internal angles.
a musical pipe, especially one made from a hollow reed.
Textiles.
to arrange (fabric) in flutes or cylindrical ridges, as along the edge of a garment, hem, etc.
to wind on a quill, as yarn.
to penetrate with, or as if with, a quill or quills.
to extract a quill or quills from: to quill a duck before cooking it.
Origin of quill
1Other words from quill
- quill-like, adjective
Words that may be confused with quill
Words Nearby quill
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use quill in a sentence
Then the fisher neatly skins the prickly prey, eating most everything except the quills and bones.
Tree-climbing carnivores called fishers are back in Washington’s forests | Brianna Randall | October 7, 2022 | Science NewsThis is the first time that such a structure, which looks like the barb of a feather fanning off the central quill, has been spotted in the Milky Way.
Astronomers have found the Milky Way’s first known ‘feather’ | Lisa Grossman | November 23, 2021 | Science NewsPad & quill just unveiled its new leather AirTag case known as The Jimmy.
Pad & Quill unveils new discreet American leather AirTag keychain case at 15% off | noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) | September 30, 2021 | TechCrunchThe rumor that porcupines can shoot or throw their quills at aggressors is only a legend, but there’s no need to test that out for yourself.
How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine | Natalie Wallington | September 17, 2021 | Popular-ScienceWhen threatened, porcupines release a strong odor meant to warn predators that quills are about to be deployed.
How to not get pricked by a North American porcupine | Natalie Wallington | September 17, 2021 | Popular-Science
Guardians centers on Peter quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), an intergalactic smuggler who swipes an orb.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ Filmmaker James Gunn on His Glorious Space Opera and Rise to the A-List | Marlow Stern | August 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe second feature involves a quill and inkwell that will also be featured on the front of the note.
All About the Benjamins: Here’s the Redesigned $100 Bill | Daniel Gross | October 7, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST“Both the quill and the inkwell are copper until you move the note,” said Lambert.
All About the Benjamins: Here’s the Redesigned $100 Bill | Daniel Gross | October 7, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTEdmund Morgan liked, especially, to teach his students how to make and sharpen a quill.
Tell Me What You See: Jill Lepore Salutes Historian Edmund S. Morgan | Jill Lepore | July 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTMost of West Plains learned the news from the front-page article in The quill on March 21.
Missouri, Where Parents Are OK With Armed Teachers | Justin Green | April 15, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThe only addition made to it when in use is the insertion of a quill or straw as a mouth-piece.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.I may be a weak old fool, but I won't have them sold down there with quill wheels and warming-pans!
The Cromptons | Mary J. HolmesFor a pen she would catch a goose, pluck a quill, and ask Billy to cut it.
A Forest Hearth: A Romance of Indiana in the Thirties | Charles MajorThe swish of a skirt seemed ridiculously loud in the hush, and the scratching of the judge's quill pen was noisily irritating.
You Never Know Your Luck, Complete | Gilbert ParkerThe pen (calamus) was made of a reed brought to a point and cleft much as our quill pens are.
The Private Life of the Romans | Harold Whetstone Johnston
British Dictionary definitions for quill
/ (kwɪl) /
any of the large stiff feathers of the wing or tail of a bird
the long hollow central part of a bird's feather; calamus
a bird's feather made into a pen for writing
any of the stiff hollow spines of a porcupine or hedgehog
a device, formerly usually made from a crow quill, for plucking a harpsichord string
angling a length of feather barb stripped of barbules and used for the body of some artificial flies
a small roll of bark, esp one of dried cinnamon
(in weaving) a bobbin or spindle
a fluted fold, as in a ruff
a hollow shaft that rotates upon an inner spindle or concentrically about an internal shaft
to wind (thread, yarn, etc) onto a spool or bobbin
to make or press fluted folds in (a ruff)
Origin of quill
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for quill
[ kwĭl ]
The hollow shaft of a feather, the bottom of which attaches to the bird's skin.
One of the sharp hollow spines of a porcupine or hedgehog.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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