Quill

Quill, kwil, n. a reed-pen: the feather of a goose or other bird used as a pen, hence a pen generally: the profession of letters: anything like a quill: the hollow basal stem of a feather: one of the large hollow sharp spines (modified hairs) of the hedgehog, porcupine, &c.: the reed on which weavers wind their thread: the instrument for striking the strings of certain instruments: the tube of a musical instrument: the hollow shaft or mandril of the seal-engraver's lathe: a train for igniting a blast: bark in a cylindrical roll.—v.t. to plait with small ridges like quills: to wind on a quill: to pluck out quills from.—ns. Quill′-driv′er (slang), one who works with a quill or pen, a clerk; Quill′-driv′ing, writing.—adj. Quilled, furnished with quills, or formed into a quill.—ns. Quill′-nib, a quill-pen shortened for use with a holder; Quill′-turn, the machine in which a weaver's quill is turned; Quill′-work, embroidery with porcupine quills, done by the North American Indians; Quill′-wort, any plant of the genus Isoëtes, esp. Isoëtes lacustris.—In the quill (Shak.), perhaps=penned, though others interpret 'in form and order like a quilled ruff.' [Explained by Skeat as orig. a stalk, hence anything pointed, O. Fr. quille, a peg—Old High Ger. kegil or chegil (Ger. kegel), a cone-shaped object, ninepin.]