quill

 
Pronunciation: /kwɪl/

noun

  • 1 (also quill feather) any of the main wing or tail feathers of a bird.
  • the hollow shaft of a feather, especially the lower part or calamus that lacks barbs.
  • (also quill pen) a pen made from a main wing or tail feather of a large bird by pointing and slitting the end of the shaft: he leant over his writing desk, quill in hand
  • 2the hollow sharp spines of a porcupine, hedgehog, or other spiny mammal.
  • 3 (quills)another term for penne. a dish of pasta quills tossed in a spicy tomato sauce
  • 4 (quills) US informal, dated pan pipes.

verb

[with object]
  • form (fabric) into small cylindrical folds.

Origin:

late Middle English (in the senses 'hollow stem' and 'shaft of a feather'): probably from Middle Low German quiele