*quill*

[ Pg. coquilho, Sp. coquillo, dim. of coco a cocoanut. ] (Bot.) The fruit of a Brazilian tree (Attalea funifera of Martius.). [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Its shell is hazel-brown in color, very hard and close in texture, and much used by turners in forming ornamental articles, such as knobs for umbrella handles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] Lit., a shell; hence: (a) A shell or shell-like dish or mold in which viands are served. (b) The expansion of the guard of a sword, dagger, etc. (c) A form of ruching used as a dress trimming or for neckwear, and named from the manner in which it is gathered or fulled. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A quill of the crow, or a very fine pen made from such a quill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Unquietness; restlessness. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }, n. [ F. jonquille, fr. L. juncus a rush, because it has rushlike leaves. ] (Bot.) A bulbous plant of the genus Narcissus (Narcissus Jonquilla), allied to the daffodil. It has long, rushlike leaves, and yellow or white fragrant flowers. The root has emetic properties. It is sometimes called the rush-leaved daffodil. See Illust. of Corona. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perhaps fr. F. quille ninepin (see Kayless); but cf. also G. kiel a quill. MHG. kil, and Ir. cuille a quill. ] 1. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. 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. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) (a) A spine of the hedgehog or porcupine. (b) The pen of a squid. See Pen. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mus.) (a) The plectrum with which musicians strike the strings of certain instruments. (b) The tube of a musical instrument. [ 1913 Webster ]

He touched the tender stops of various quills. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Something having the form of a quill; as: (a) The fold or plain of a ruff. (b) (Weaving) A spindle, or spool, as of reed or wood, upon which the thread for the woof is wound in a shuttle. (c) (Mach.) A hollow spindle. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Pharm.) A roll of dried bark; as, a quill of cinnamon or of cinchona. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Quill bit, a bit for boring resembling the half of a reed split lengthways and having its end sharpened like a gouge. --
Quill driver, one who works with a pen; a writer; a clerk. [ Jocose ] --
Quill nib, a small quill pen made to be used with a holder. Simmonds. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Quilled p. pr. & vb. n. Quilling. ] 1. To plaint in small cylindrical ridges, called quillings; as, to quill a ruffle. [ 1913 Webster ]

His cravat seemed quilled into a ruff. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wind on a quill, as thread or yarn. Judd. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) The bark of a rosaceous tree (Quillaja Saponaria), native of Chile. The bark is finely laminated, and very heavy with alkaline substances, and is used commonly by the Chileans instead of soap. Also called soap bark. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) An American fresh-water fish (Ictiobus cyprinus syn. Carpiodes cyprinus); -- called also carp sucker, sailfish, spearfish, and skimback. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Furnished with quills; also, shaped like quills. “A sharp-quilled porcupine.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Quilled suture (Surg.), a variety of stitch in which the threads after being passed deeply through the edges of a wound are secured about two quills or bodies of similar shape, in order to produce a suitable degree of pressure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. quidlibet what you please. Cf. Quiddit, and Quibble. ] Subtilty; nicety; quibble. “Nice, sharp quillets of the law.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (a) A band of linen, muslin, or the like, fluted, folded, or plaited so as somewhat to resemble a row of quills. (b) One of the rounded plaits or flutings of such a band. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Any plant or species of the genus Isoetes, cryptogamous plants with a cluster of elongated four-tubed rushlike leaves, rising from a corm, and containing spores in their enlarged and excavated bases. There are about seventeen American species, usually growing in the mud under still, shallow water. So called from the shape of the shape of the leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. squille (also scille a squill, in sense 1), L. squilla, scilla, Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. (Bot.) (a) A European bulbous liliaceous plant (Urginea maritima, formerly Scilla maritima), of acrid, expectorant, diuretic, and emetic properties, used in medicine. Called also sea onion. (b) Any bulbous plant of the genus Scilla; as, the bluebell squill (Scilla mutans). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) (a) A squilla. (b) A mantis. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. E. Squillas L. Squillae [ L., a sea onion, also, a prawn or shrimp. See Squill. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous stomapod crustaceans of the genus Squilla and allied genera. They make burrows in mud or beneath stones on the seashore. Called also mantis shrimp. See Illust. under Stomapoda. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to squills. [ R. ] “Squillitic vinegar.” Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tranquillité, L. tranquillitas. ] The quality or state of being tranquil; calmness; composure. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. The act of tranquilizing, or the state of being tranquilized. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tranquilized r Tranquilliized; p. pr. & vb. n. Tranquilizing r Tranquillizing. ] [ Cf. F. tranquilliser. ] To render tranquil; to allay when agitated; to compose; to make calm and peaceful; as, to tranquilize a state disturbed by factions or civil commotions; to tranquilize the mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To quiet; compose; still; soothe; appease; calm; pacify. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. One who, or that which, tranquilizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Making tranquil; calming. “ The tranquilizing power of time.” Wordsworth. -- Tran"quil*i`zing*ly or Tran"quil*li`zing*ly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]