quill
n. countablen. 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.