quill

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sardith
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quill

Postby sardith » Sat Oct 26, 2013 12:40 pm

Has anyone ever heard of the word, 'quill', being defined as: the best, most proficient and talented, like 'top notch'?

Harold Gould uses the word, 'quill', in the movie, 'The Sting', when he is at the bar where he picks out the best men to work the con.

Kid Twist (Harold Gould): "Gondorff is setting up a wire store on the north side. I'm gonna need a twenty man boost right away."
Dukey: "I've got plenty of talent out there tonight. You can take your pick."
Kid Twist: "This is a tough one, Dukey. These guys have gotta be the 'quill'."
Dukey: (directs comment to Lace)"Get me the sheet."
(to Kid Twist) "We'll see who's in town."


Thanks everyone,
Sardith :mrgreen:
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~

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Slava
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Re: quill

Postby Slava » Sat Oct 26, 2013 3:08 pm

It took a few tries, but I did manage to find a site that has a definition: The genuine article.

It doesn't give any sources, though, so I'm not so sure how far to take it for sooth.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

Perry Lassiter
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Re: quill

Postby Perry Lassiter » Sat Oct 26, 2013 3:12 pm

I found this in the urban dictionary:

New word for cool, fly, awesome, etc.
You wish you could be as quill as me.
pl

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Slava
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Re: quill

Postby Slava » Sat Oct 26, 2013 3:27 pm

I found this in the urban dictionary:

New word for cool, fly, awesome, etc.
You wish you could be as quill as me.
I saw this one but decided not to use it as they say it's new. Since the use here is from The Sting, it should be criminal slang from the 30s. Even the movie itself is 40 years old, so I wouldn't call it new.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

sardith
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Re: quill

Postby sardith » Sun Oct 27, 2013 12:39 am

Thanks, guys!

Slava, that 'Scoundrel's Slang' is pretty interesting. . .

Have a nice weekend,
Sardith
:mrgreen:
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~

eberntson
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Re: quill

Postby eberntson » Wed Oct 30, 2013 8:22 am

I would suppose that since a quill is an old form of writing tool, it would imply that a person describe this way would be "sharp". I've used a quill to do some calligraphy and you have to constantly sharpen it . Also porcupines have sharp quills. Just a thought.
In contrast, someone that is not quill (sharp), can be referred to as "not the sharpest tool in the toolbox. "

Happy Halloween (GO Red Sox!)

E
EBERNTSON
Fear less, hope more;
eat less, chew more;
whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more,
and all good things will be yours.
--R. Burns

sardith
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Re: quill

Postby sardith » Wed Oct 30, 2013 10:08 am

Good points, eberntson. . .no pun intended. :wink:
“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”
~Mark Twain, [pen name for Samuel Clemens], American author and humorist, (1835-1910)~

Perry Lassiter
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Re: quill

Postby Perry Lassiter » Wed Oct 30, 2013 4:55 pm

The porcupine reference may be onto something as far as quill meaning someone who is sharp. I like it!
pl


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