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.-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.-a spine of the hedgehog or porcupine.-the pen of a squid. see pen.-the plectrum with which musicians strike the strings of certain instruments.-the tube of a musical instrument.-something having the form of a quill-the fold or plain of a ruff.-a spindle, or spool, as of reed or wood, upon which the thread for the woof is wound in a shuttle.-a hollow spindle.-to plaint in small cylindrical ridges, called quillings; as, to quill a ruffle.-to wind on a quill, as thread or yarn.