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quilt

(kwĭlt)

1. A coverlet or blanket made of two layers of fabric with a layer of cotton, wool, feathers, or down in between, all stitched firmly together, usually in a decorative design.

2. A thick protective cover similar to or suggestive of a quilt.

v. quilt·ed, quilt·ing, quilts

v.tr.

1. To make into a quilt by stitching (layers of fabric) together.

2. To construct like a quilt: quilt a skirt.

3. To pad and stitch ornamentally.

v.intr.

1. To make a quilt.

2. To do quilted work.

[Middle English quilte, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin culcita, mattress.]

quilter n.

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quilt

c. 1846-1875 American appliquéd quilt

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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