quilled

comparative more quilled · superlative most quilled

1. Having quills or similar structures.

   A quilled lionfish was face to face with a saurian moray eel, sizing it up before swimming on.

   2011, Alesa Corrin, Jonathan: The Griffin Prince, AuthorHouse, published 2011, →ISBN, page 234

   2 more examples

   In Ireland have I seen this stubborn Cade Oppose himself against a troop of kerns, And fought so long till that his thighs with darts Were almost like a sharp-quill'd porpentine;

   1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]

   He leaned down to inspect a white-quilled cactus, and then spotted a different kind with skinnier branches and only a few drab spines.

   2010, T. Lloyd Winetsky, Maria Juana's Gift: A Novel, Sunstone Press, published 2010, →ISBN, page 148

2. Having long, narrow petals or florets.

   In the wild state the flowers are single—that is to say, only the outer florets are strap-shaped, and usually of a rosy-lilac tint, with yellowish disc florets; but under cultivation, all the florets have become ligulate or quilled […]

   1889, William Robinson, The English Flower Garden: Style, Position, And Arrangement, John Murray, published 1899, page 291

3. Created through the process of quilling.
4. Having small, rounded folds.

   Round the throat is a ruff of white muslin, quilled in large reverse plaids; […]

   1844, Louisa Stuart Costello, Memoirs of Eminent Englishwomen, Volume 1, R. Bentley, page 169

   1 more example

   He insensibly began to alter his appearance; his cravat seemed quilled into a ruff, and his breeches swelled out into a farlingale. I now fancied him changing sexes; and as my eyes began to close in slumber, I imagined my fat landlord actually converted into as fat a landlady.

   1909, Henry C. Shelley, Inns and Taverns of Old London, L.C. Page and Company

5. Decorated with quillwork.

1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of quill