Quillwork
/ˈkwɪlˌwɜːrk/noun
Decorative work made with quills, especially porcupine quills stitched or woven onto clothing or objects.
Did you know?Quillwork is a real craft term, but its power comes from the older word quill, which once meant both a feather and a sharp spine—so the same word can point to beauty, pain, and writing.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
cwille
“not directly the source of quill, but an earlier Germanic word for a feather or hollow shaft is ultimately behind the modern form”
Middle English
ME
quille
“a feather, especially the hard shaft of a feather; also a pen made from a feather”
Early Modern English
English
quill work
“work made using quills as decoration or material”
Modern English
English
quillwork
“decorative work made with quills, especially as an art form”