quill
Porcupine's sharp spine
A quill is a large feather, especially from the wing or tail of a bird—or more specifically, the hollow shaft of such a feather.
Before metal nibs, writers used sharpened quill shafts dipped in ink: She wrote the letter with a quill.
The word extends to similar pointed structures: a porcupine's quills are its defensive spines.
To quill is to pleat fabric into small cylindrical folds resembling quill shafts.
Container for dipping pens
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- scribeManual document copier
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
script · cursive · handwriting · nib · papyrus · scroll · vellum · autograph
Bird's complete feather coat
- downToward lower ground
- barbsSharp points or jibes
- shaftNarrow vertical passage
- vaneWind direction indicator
flight · wing · bird · pigeon · eagle · owl · hawk · fletching
Stiff, pointed projections
- barbsSharp points or jibes
- protectionGuarding against harm
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- bristlesCoarse animal hairs
defensive · echidna · hedgehog · keratin · hollow · detachable · lodge · embed
Tapering to a tip
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- needlelikeResembling a sharp spine
- spikyHaving sharp projections
- taperedGradually narrowing in width
keen · fine · narrow · barbed · pointy · tip · sharpened · trimmed
Old valued collectible
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- classicOf lasting excellence
historical · bygone · old-fashioned · traditional · heirloom · relic · archaic · inkstand
To grow vigorously
- letteringStyled written characters
- italicSlanted letter style
- gildingApplying decorative gold coating
- illuminatedMade visible by light
engrossing · swash · ornamentation · copperplate · uncial · blackletter · majuscule · minuscule
inkwell
Container for dipping pens
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- scribeManual document copier
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
penmanship · script · cursive · handwriting · nib · papyrus · scroll · vellum · autograph · epistle
plumage
Bird's complete feather coat
vane · flight · wing · bird · pigeon · eagle · owl · hawk · fletching · preen
spines
Stiff, pointed projections
- barbsSharp points or jibes
- protectionGuarding against harm
- pricklySpiny or irritable
bristles · defensive · echidna · hedgehog · keratin · hollow · detachable · lodge · embed · predator
pointed
Tapering to a tip
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- needlelikeResembling a sharp spine
- spikyHaving sharp projections
tapered · keen · fine · narrow · barbed · pointy · tip · sharpened · trimmed · cut
antique
Old valued collectible
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
classic · historical · bygone · old-fashioned · traditional · heirloom · relic · archaic · inkstand · writing desk
flourish
To grow vigorously
illuminated · engrossing · swash · ornamentation · copperplate · uncial · blackletter · majuscule · minuscule · stroke
- feathersfeather, feathers, plume, down feathers, flight feathers
- feather partsbarb, shaft, vane, rachis, barbule
- illuminated manuscriptsilluminated manuscripts, illuminated manuscript, illuminated letters, illumination, illuminations
- Torah scribessofer, Torah scroll, Torah scrolls, parchment scrolls, scribe
- feathered thingsbird, eagle, owl, parrot, penguin
- antiquesantiques, antique furniture, antique, antique coins, Greek vases
quillballpoint pen
Rotating-sphere writing instrument
ballpoint · keyboard · touchscreen · rollerball pen · gel pen
quilldown
Toward lower ground
plume · vane · fluff · barb · afterfeather
quillrubber grip
Non-slip handle covering
acrylic · polymer · fiberglass
- quill penFeather used for writing
- porcupine quillsSpiny rodent defense structures
- goose quillBird feather for writing
- paper quillingCraft using rolled paper
- quill writingScript made with feathers
- quill workDecoration using porcupine spines