Author: Emma Ferrett, CED definer
Date: July 16, 2025
quilt, n
- two layers of cloth with a layer of padding in between, stitched with cross lines through all three layers
- see PATCHWORK QUILT
- something composed of multiple distinct parts, reminiscent of a quilt
Think of a quilt. That seems easy enough. Maybe you’re picturing a blanket stitched by a parent or grandparent, with bits of fabric from your childhood clothing. Maybe, like me, your family are not quilters, so the only experience you have with quilts are the factory-made bed coverings in shades of safe millennial grey. Or maybe you aren’t even thinking about a blanket—maybe you’re picturing a piece of quilted wall art that has never felt the comfort of a bed. Herein lies the problem. Can you define quilt as a blanket, or is this too exclusive? What are the essential qualities of a quilt that need to be relayed?
Sense 1: two layers of cloth with a layer of padding in between, stitched with cross lines through all three layers
One of the major principles of defining at the CED (and in most dictionaries) is that nouns should be defined as: genus + differentia. Let’s say you were defining toonie: a coin worth two Canadian dollars. The genus answers the question “what is it?” (a coin); the differentia answers the question “what distinguishes it from others in the same genus, e.g., a loonie?” (it is worth two Canadian dollars). The structure of this rule allows for scope and specificity in the definition.
A wrinkle arises, however, when there is no appropriate genus, as in the case of quilt. We were tempted to define the genus as a blanket or bed covering. But this is too specific because it excludes quilts that are made for and used as art, or even quilts for things that are not beds (couches, armchairs, car seats…). But a less specific genus (e.g., an item) is too vague and presumably not helpful for someone learning about quilts for the first time. What do we do?
Perhaps we can rely on the differentiae, which are easy enough to specify. Quilts have three layers: two layers of cloth with a layer of padding in between; and the stitching needs to go through all three layers. So, in a case like this, we allow an exception to the genus + differentia rule. We ditch the genus entirely and the definition becomes:
- two layers of cloth with a layer of padding in between, stitched with cross lines through all three layers
Sense 2: see PATCHWORK QUILT
Sometimes quilt is used to refer specifically to a patchwork quilt. Here, we use a cross-reference to the corresponding entry for patchwork quilt. And because we have yet to begin work on P, defining patchwork quilt is a problem for later-Emma, and a cross-reference will suffice for now…
Sense 3: something composed of multiple distinct parts, reminiscent of a quilt
Finally, a definition must consider metaphorical and abstract senses (e.g., in the case of quilt: those square patches of farmland that, when seen from an airplane, resemble a quilt). I proposed the definition: “something composed of multiple different parts joined together and resembling a quilt.” But there are a few problems here that were fixed by the editorial team:
• “different” was replaced by “distinct” (“distinct” allows the parts of the whole to remain easily identifiable, and thus the metaphorical quilt more clearly resembles a literal quilt);
• “joined together” was omitted because the togetherness is already implied by the genus “something,” i.e. a single thing; and
• “resembling a quilt” was deemed to prioritize visual similarity, thus excluding other forms of abstract resemblance (e.g., Toronto as a quilt of cultures), so “resembling a quilt” was replaced with "reminiscent of a quilt."
And so, the first draft of a definition is born.
If you want to learn more about the CED, or if you’re thinking “that seems fun, I could define quilt” then take a look for more details about how you can get involved. Or get in touch via the CED . And if you just want an easy five-minute read about the current rabbit holes I’m falling into as I try to define quantum theory, quotidian, and quillypig, stay tuned for the next post of “Anatomy of an Entry”.