quill

[[t]kwɪl[/t]]

n.

1) orn one of the large feathers of the wing or tail of a bird

2) orn the hard, hollow, basal part of a feather

3) orn a feather, as of a goose, formed into a pen for writing

4) zool. one of the hollow spines on a porcupine or hedgehog

5) mad a plectrum of a harpsichord

6) a roll of bark, as of cinnamon, formed in drying

7) tex a reed, spindle, or tube upon which filling yarn is wound for weaving

8) Mach.

mac a hollow shaft or sleeve through which another independently rotating shaft may pass

9) tex to arrange (fabric) in flutes or cylindrical ridges

10) tex to wind on a quill, as yarn

11) to penetrate with, or as if with, a quill or quills

12) to extract a quill or quills from

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Etymology: 1375–1425; late ME quil; cf. LG quiele, G Kiel quill′-like`, adj.