Definition

A large feather, typically from a goose or swan, sharpened and used as a writing instrument before the invention of modern pens; also, the hollow shaft of a feather or a spine of a porcupine.

Example Usage

Medieval scribes dipped their quills in ink to hand-copy manuscripts.

Origin

From Old English 'cwill,' related to Middle Low German 'quill' (hollow reed).

Fun Fact

Quills remained the primary writing instrument for centuries and had to be regularly re-sharpened and split; the term 'pen' itself comes from 'penna,' the Latin word for feather.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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