Quill
/kwɪl/noun
A long, slender feather or a writing instrument made from such a feather.
Did you know?In medieval times, quills were not just writing tools; they were often dipped in ink made from crushed gallnuts, believed to connect the writer to the divine.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kwel-
“to turn, revolve, or move in a circular manner.”
Latin
Latin
cūlus
“the tail or the rear part of a bird.”
Old English
Old English
cwella
“a feather or quill.”
Middle English
Middle English
quille
“a writing instrument made from a feather.”
Modern English
English
quill
“a pen made from a bird's feather, particularly for writing.”