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 ]

(Bot.) The bark of a rosaceous tree (Quillaja Saponaria), native of Chile. The bark is finely laminated, and very heavy with alkaline substances, and is used commonly by the Chileans instead of soap. Also called soap bark. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) An American fresh-water fish (Ictiobus cyprinus syn. Carpiodes cyprinus); -- called also carp sucker, sailfish, spearfish, and skimback. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Furnished with quills; also, shaped like quills. “A sharp-quilled porcupine.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quilled suture (Surg.), a variety of stitch in which the threads after being passed deeply through the edges of a wound are secured about two quills or bodies of similar shape, in order to produce a suitable degree of pressure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. quidlibet what you please. Cf. Quiddit, and Quibble. ] Subtilty; nicety; quibble. “Nice, sharp quillets of the law.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (a) A band of linen, muslin, or the like, fluted, folded, or plaited so as somewhat to resemble a row of quills. (b) One of the rounded plaits or flutings of such a band. [ 1913 Webster ]