[L. penna, a feather.] An instrument for writing with a fluid ink. In ancient times, pens were made out of reeds ; but after paper came into use they were made from quills, generally those of the goose and swan, and for extremely fine writing those of the crow. The manufacture of pens from steel was commenced about the beginning of the nineteenth century. Machinery is now largely used in the manufacture of pens, but the finer qualities are finished by hand labor. An ordinary steel pen has to go through some sixteen different processes ; while the gold pen, which is incorrodible with ink, and very largely manufactured in the United States, goes through no less than forty-five different processes.