quilting
UK[ˈkwɪltɪŋ]US[ˈkwɪltɪŋ]
n
The activity or process of making quilts.
n
The material or fabric used to make a quilt, or the quilted work itself.
Morpheme Breakdown
quilt
ing
quilt
noun/verb
ing
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'quilting' originates from the Latin culcita, meaning a stuffed sack or cushion, which entered English via Old French as 'cuilte'. The core concept of a padded, stitched textile is preserved from its ancient root. The addition of the Old English suffix '-ing' transforms the verb 'to quilt'—the act of stitching layers of fabric with padding between—into a noun denoting the craft or its product. Thus, 'quilting' elegantly encapsulates the entire process, from the historical object (quilt) to the modern creative action and its resulting textile art.
Analysis
Structure: quilt (noun/verb) + ing (noun suffix)
- quilt: From Latin culcita meaning "mattress, cushion". In English, it functions as a noun (a warm bed covering) and a verb (to stitch layers together).
- ing: A suffix of Old English origin used to form nouns from verbs, indicating the action, process, or result of that verb.
Examples
She spent her winter evenings engaged in quilting, creating a beautiful pattern for her granddaughter.
The quilting on this jacket provides both decoration and extra warmth.
Traditional quilting often involves gathering a community to work on a single project.