1. (n.) 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.

2. (n.) 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.

3. (n.) A spine of the hedgehog or porcupine.

4. (n.) The pen of a squid. See Pen.

5. (n.) The plectrum with which musicians strike the strings of certain instruments.

6. (n.) The tube of a musical instrument.

7. (n.) Something having the form of a quill

8. (n.) The fold or plain of a ruff.

9. (n.) A spindle, or spool, as of reed or wood, upon which the thread for the woof is wound in a shuttle.

10. (n.) A hollow spindle.

11. (v. t.) To plaint in small cylindrical ridges, called quillings; as, to quill a ruffle.

12. (v. t.) To wind on a quill, as thread or yarn.

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