What does quill mean?
A quill is a bird's feather, especially one sharpened and fitted with ink to serve as a pen. The word also refers to the pen itself, making it a familiar historical image of authorship, scholarship, and handwritten correspondence. Quill pens were used for centuries before metal nibs became widely available, and they are often mentioned in descriptions of medieval and early modern writers. By extension, a quill can mean any sharp, hollow spine, such as the defensive quills of a porcupine. In ordinary modern usage, the term is somewhat old-fashioned, but it remains vivid in historical, literary, and figurative contexts. It can also refer to a modern pen inspired by the traditional feather shape, especially in branding and product names. The word's strongest associations are precision, traditional learning, and the physical act of writing by hand.
nounA feather used as a pen, especially one taken from a bird and sharpened at the end. By extension, the word can mean a pen made from such a feather or a sharp, hollow spine such as a porcupine's.
- A bird's feather, especially one used as a writing instrument.
- A pen made from a sharpened feather.
- A sharp, hollow spine or prickle, especially that of a porcupine.
"The scholar dipped the quill in ink and continued writing the letter."
"She wrote her name with a quill and a pot of black ink."
"A porcupine defended itself with a raised quill."
Plural quills refers to multiple feathers, writing pens, or animal spines.
"The author kept several quills beside the manuscript."
Before steel nibs became common, a sharpened bird feather transformed a drop of ink into a line of writing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quill come from?
The English word comes from Middle English quill, meaning a feather or a writing pen, and was borrowed from a Middle Dutch word quille. The Dutch source was an old term for a feather or wing, connected with words in other Germanic languages for similarly shaped or animal-related structures. The modern sense for a porcupine's sharp spine developed by analogy with the pointed form of a bird's feather. The word's history reflects the long association between quills and handwritten communication.
Related word forms
How quill is actually used
In its first and second senses, the word is chiefly literary or historical. The third sense is common in descriptions of porcupines and similar animals. "Quill" can also be used metaphorically for a sharply pointed writing instrument or feature.
Easily confused with quill
A quill is a feather or similar pointed structure, whereas a quilt is a padded or layered textile cover.