quill
n.a large feather from a bird's wing or tail that people used as a pen in the past. It can also mean one of the sharp, stiff hairs on a porcupine.
n.the hollow, stiff barrel of a feather, or a writing instrument fashioned from such a feather. In a zoological context, refers to the sharp, protective spines of a porcupine or similar animal.
“The writer dipped his quill into the ink and began to write.”
“The museum display featured a collection of original manuscripts written entirely with goose quills.”
“When threatened, the porcupine raises its quills to create a formidable barrier of sharp points that can easily detach and embed in a predator's skin.”
Often used in historical contexts regarding writing; in biology, it specifically refers to the calamus of a feather.
“Directed and developed by Sarah Blush, Lions mashes together eras – the performers are just as likely to brandish quills as record voice notes.”