ˈgoose-quill
1. One of the quills or wing-feathers of a goose; hence, a pen made of such a feather.
| 1552 Huloet, Goose quyll, calamus anserinus. 1583 Hollyband Campo di Fior 331 We write with goose quilles. 1602 Shakes. Ham. ii. ii. 359 Many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of Goose-quils. 1658 Manton Exp. Jude verse 3. Wks. 1871 V. 98 The goose-quill hath smote antichrist under the fifth rib. 1773 Hamilton in Phil. Trans. LXIII. 327 Two wires of about the size of a goose-quill. 1834 F. B. Head Bubbles of Brunnen 138 Sensations on the eye and ear which the goose-quill has not power to impart. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. iii. 148 A fat philosopher sitting writing in a peaceful library with a goose quill. |
| attrib. 1594 Nashe Unfort. Trav. Wks. (Grosart) V. 38 These aboue named goosequil braccahadocheos. 1661 Walton Angler (ed. 3) x. 172 Three..Goose-quil floats. |
† b. A writer, author.
nonce-use.
Obs.| 1600 Nashe Summers Last Will Wks. (Grosart) VI. 149 Bowles, cards and dice, you are the true liberal sciences, Ile ne're be Goose-quil, gentlemen, while I liue. |
† 2. Naut. (See
quot.;
cf. goose-wing 2.)
Obs.| 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1780), Carguer le point de la voile qui est sous le vent, to haul up the lee-clue-garnet, or goose-quill of a sail. |
Hence
† gooseˈquillian a.| 1610 Histrio-m. iii. D 4, Not while goosequillian Posthast holds his pen. |