Quills Meaning in English
word · lemma: quill
Definition
Quills are the stiff, sharp spines on animals like porcupines, or large feathers once used as pens for writing.
Usage & Nuances
"Quills" often refers to porcupine spines, but can also mean historical feather pens. In modern English, 'quill pen' is more common for writing, while 'quills' alone usually means animal spines. It's formal or literary for feather pens, but common in science for animals.
Example Sentences
Porcupines have many sharp quills on their backs.
basic
People used to write with quills before pens were invented.
basic
The museum displays old quills used by writers.
basic
Be careful—some animals defend themselves with their quills if they feel threatened.
natural
I've always wanted to try writing with real quills, like in old movies.
natural
The hedgehog's quills are much shorter than those of a porcupine.
natural