What does quiverful mean?
Quiverful is a compact noun meaning as much as an archer's quiver can hold, especially a complete set of arrows. It refers to a quantity rather than to the quiver itself, so "a quiverful of arrows" can describe either the contents of a full case or the number needed to fill one. The word is uncommon in modern English but readily intelligible and is chiefly encountered in literary or historical descriptions of archery. Its formation is transparent: "quiver" supplies the container and the suffix "-ful" turns it into a measure of capacity. This makes quiverful useful when an author wants to evoke a vivid image of archery or a substantial supply of arrows. Although a quiver can also mean a trembling motion, a quiverful does not denote that action; its established sense is the full complement of arrows associated with an archer's quiver.
nounThe quantity of arrows that fills a quiver; a full complement of arrows.
- The amount of arrows contained in, or sufficient to fill, an archer's quiver.
"The royal inventory included a quiverful of arrows for the prince's bow."
"The royal inventory included a quiverful of arrows for the prince's bow."
"Each archer was given a quiverful of arrows before the tournament."
The regular plural is quiverfuls, although singular constructions such as "a quiverful of arrows" are much more usual.
"The quartermaster issued two quiverfuls to the archers."
A quiverful turns a container into a capacity: just enough arrows to fill the case.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quiverful come from?
Quiverful is an English compound formed by joining quiver to the suffix -ful. Quiver is a Middle English word borrowed from Old French quiver, denoting the case from which arrows were shot, although the older word's ultimate origin is uncertain. The compound therefore expresses the meaning "as much as a quiver can hold." Related English forms include quiver, quivered, quivering, and quiverless, all built on the same stem rather than on the compound as a whole.
Related word forms
How quiverful is actually used
This is an uncommon, somewhat literary word rather than part of everyday vocabulary. It is normally used in the phrase "a quiverful of arrows" and refers to the quantity of arrows associated with a full quiver.
Easily confused with quiverful
A quiver is the container that holds arrows, whereas a quiverful is the quantity of arrows that fills such a container.