Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

QUILL, n., v. Also queel (Gall. 1903 Gallovidian V. 140); quull- (Sc. 1831 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) III. 262).

I. n. 1. Fig. Sc. usages, the throat, gullet. Phr. to weet one's quill, to take some drink. From the obs. Eng. usage = a small pipe or tube.Rnf. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 17:
Jamie was sure to fill the gill, If bid sit down to weet his quill.

2. ? A ruff, from the tubular pleats on it which were known as quills (N.E.D.).Sc. 1828 The Gardener in Child Ballads No. 219 A. xi.:
The lily white to be your smock; And the jelly-flower to be your quill.

3. Comb. quill-pen, used fig. in phr. quill-pen quyte, a swallow-tailed coat, “tails” (Bnff. 1967).Abd. 1914 J. Leatham Daavit 64:
The club dined in state . . . every member and permitted guest appearing in what David called “a quill-pen quyte.”

II. v. To use a quill or writing pen; tr. to write. Liter. and rare.Lnk. 1890 J. Coghill Poems 67:
This screed whilk he's juist new dune quillin'.Peb. 1945 J. Dickson Poems per Slg.³:
For each and a' the cheque's been quilled Wi' nae successors.