quill
noun
\ ˈkwil
\
\
Definition of quill
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a(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
2a(1)
: the hollow horny shaft of a feather — see feather illustration
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
verb
quilled;
quilling;
quills
Definition of quill (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to pierce with quills
2a
: 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: Noun
The yucca is a marvelous plant that once provided soap and quill tools to Native Americans. — Chris Erskine, latimes.com, "In the glow of a mountain campsite that’s closer than you’d believe," 13 June 2019 Spend a day in a one room schoolhouse, where quill pens and slates are the writing implements, create a shadow portrait, and take a scenic hike through the Nathan Hale State Forest. — courant.com, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 20 June 2019 The rodent — which is likely a juvenile as its quills have not yet hardened, per The Portland Press Herald — was spotted by museum staff on Tuesday. — Fox News, "Rare albino porcupine spotted at Maine museum," 21 July 2019 Spend a day in a one room schoolhouse, where quill pens and slates are the writing implements, create a shadow portrait, and take a scenic hike through the Nathan Hale State Forest. — courant.com, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 20 June 2019 Think of Dickens and piles of foolscap and quill pens and Bob Cratchit. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Column: How to punish Todd Ricketts for alleged tax scam? Elect him as congressman or better yet, governor," 4 July 2019 Spend a day in a one room schoolhouse, where quill pens and slates are the writing implements, create a shadow portrait, and take a scenic hike through the Nathan Hale State Forest. — courant.com, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 20 June 2019 Apart from the addition of rippling stars and stripes to Ulysses S. Grant’s fifty, in 2004, and a dapper quill to Franklin’s C-note, in 2009, the designs of American bills have not changed in recent memory. — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, "The Haunted Image of Harriet Tubman on the Twenty-Dollar Bill," 18 June 2019 Spend a day in a one room schoolhouse, where quill pens and slates are the writing implements, create a shadow portrait, and take a scenic hike through the Nathan Hale State Forest. — courant.com, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 20 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Visitors can browse through more than 2,000 displays in other media, including decorative gourds, metal, wood, glass, jewelry, quilled greeting cards, handmade clothing and accessories. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Master class sculptors carve creative designs with sand and water," 29 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quill.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for quill
quill
noun
English Language Learners Definition of quill
: the hollow central part of a feather
: a large, stiff feather from the wing or tail of a bird
: a pen that is made from a feather
See the full definition for quill in the English Language Learners Dictionary
quill
noun
\ ˈkwil
\
\
Kids Definition of quill
1
: a large stiff feather of a bird's wing or tail
2
: the hollow tubelike part of a feather
3
: a hollow sharp spine of a porcupine or hedgehog
4
: a pen made from a feather
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