1. [n]  a stiff hollow protective spine on a porcupine or hedgehog
2. [n]  the hollow shaft of a feather
3. [n]  any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird
4. [n]  pen made from a bird's feather

Quill
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1. \Quill\, n. (Pharm.)
   A roll of dried bark; as, a quill of cinnamon or of cinchona.
   

2. \Quill\, n. [Perhaps fr. F. quille ninepin (see
   {Kayless}); but cf. also G. kiel a quill. MHG. kil, and Ir.
   cuille a quill.]
   1. 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. 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. --Sir H. Wotton.
   3. (Zo["o]l.)
      (a) A spine of the hedgehog or porcupine.
      (b) The pen of a squid. See {Pen}.
   4. (Mus.)
      (a) The plectrum with which musicians strike the strings
          of certain instruments.
      (b) The tube of a musical instrument.
                He touched the tender stops of various quills.
                                                  --Milton.
   5. Something having the form of a quill; as:
      (a) The fold or plain of a ruff.
      (b) (Weaving) A spindle, or spool, as of reed or wood,
          upon which the thread for the woof is wound in a
          shuttle.
      (c) (Mach.) A hollow spindle.
   {Quill bit}, a bit for boring resembling the half of a reed
      split lengthways and having its end sharpened like a
      gouge.
   {Quill driver}, one who works with a pen; a writer; a clerk.
      [Jocose]
   {Quill nib}, a small quill pen made to be used with a holder.
      --Simmonds.
   

3. \Quill\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Quilled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Quilling}.]
   1. To plaint in small cylindrical ridges, called quillings;
      as, to quill a ruffle.
            His cravat seemed quilled into a ruff. --Goldsmith.
   2. To wind on a quill, as thread or yarn. --Judd.