quill

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: a bobbin, spool, or spindle on which filling yarn is wound
(2)
: a hollow shaft often surrounding another shaft and used in various mechanical devices
b
: a roll of dried bark
cinnamon quills
2
a(1)
: the hollow horny shaft of a feather see feather illustration
(2)
: feather
especially : one of the large stiff feathers of the wing or tail
b
: one of the hollow sharp spines of a porcupine or hedgehog
3
: something made from or resembling the quill of a feather
especially : a pen for writing
4
: a float for a fishing line

quill

2 of 2

verb

quilled; quilling; quills

transitive verb

1
: to pierce with quills
2
a
: to wind (thread or yarn) on a quill
b
: to make a series of small rounded ridges in (cloth)

Examples of quill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Arkansas Country Blues and Stringband Festival celebrates commonalities A good example of the commonality between two distinct Southern music traditions is the humble quill. Monica Hooper, arkansasonline.com, 20 Oct. 2024 Following their assimilation from the oral tradition into cheerleaders of literacy, the muses are seen waving pens and quills, scrolls and manuscripts in ancient artworks. Alison Habens, JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Then Kekere-Ekun will quill piece by piece using colored paper, ribbons and parts of canvases before it's eventually completed. CNN, 2 Nov. 2022 Visitors can view a variety of media including textiles—such as Navajo artist D.Y. Begay’s Southwest landscape painting on wool—beadwork, sculpture, photography, film and even clothing attire such as beaded and quilled Louboutin shoes. Lily Katzman, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2020 See all Example Sentences for quill 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English quil hollow reed, bobbin; akin to Middle High German kil large feather

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quill was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near quill

Cite this Entry

“Quill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quill. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

quill

noun
ˈkwil
1
a
: the hollow tubelike part of a feather
b
: one of the large stiff feathers of the wing or tail
2
: one of the hollow sharp spines of a porcupine or hedgehog
3
: a pen made from a feather
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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