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Quill

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

An old-fashioned quill pen resting on parchment paper with an inkwell nearby.

What is a Quill?

A quill is a special writing tool made from a feather of a big bird. Long ago, before we had pens like the ones we use today, people used quills to write with ink.

How Do Quills Work?

Quills do not hold ink inside. Writers have to dip the quill into a little container called an inkwell to put ink on the tip. Some people still like to use quills today because they can make very sharp lines and write in fun ways.

Making a Quill

To make a quill, the feather is dried or treated to make it strong. Then, the tip is shaped into a point that can write. The hollow part of the feather lets a little ink flow to the tip when the writer dips it. When made just right, a quill stays in good shape and doesn’t need much fixing.

Quill and a parchment
A nib cut from a bird's quill

Images

Historical writing tools including an ink bottle, a pen holder, and a quill pen.
Three goose feathers showing the steps to make writing quills: unmodified, polished, and cut and shaped.
A historic box of quill pens featuring an illustration of a teacher and students in a classroom setting.
Portrait of Edward Johnston, a famous calligrapher known for his contributions to the art of beautiful writing.
A historical painting from 1725 showing a man holding books, reflecting scholarly life in the 18th century.
A classic painting titled 'La Lettera' by Theodoros Rallis, suitable for educational use.
An old-fashioned quill pen used for writing, showing its fine tip.

Related articles

Bird

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Quill, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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