A quill pen's a writing implement made from a flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, metal-nibbed pens, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen. The hand-cut goose quill's rarely still used as a calligraphy tool but it does provide a sharp stroke, and more flexibility than does a steel pen. The hollow shaft of the feather acts as an ink reservoir and ink flows to the tip by capil… (More on Quill)