a little instrument, usually formed of a quill, serving to write withal.

Pens are also sometimes made of silver, brass, or iron.

Dutch Pens, are made of quills that have passed through hot ashes, to take off the grosser fat and moisture, and render them more transparent.

Fountain Pen, is a pen made of silver, brass, &c., contrived to contain a considerable quantity of ink, and let it flow out by gentle degrees, so as to supply the writer a long time without being under the necessity of taking fresh ink.

The fountain-pen is composed of several pieces, as in Plate CCXXXII. fig. 3. where the middle piece F carries the pen, which is screwed into the inside of a little pipe, which again is soldered to another pipe of the same bigness as the lid G; in which lid is soldered a male screw, for screwing on the cover, as also for stopping a little hole at the place, and hindering the ink from passing through it. At the other end of the piece F is a little pipe, on the outside of which the top-cover H may be screwed. In the cover there goes a port-crayon, which is to be screwed into the last-mentioned pipe, in order to stop the end of the pipe, into which the ink is to be poured by a funnel. To use the pen, the cover G must be taken off, and the pen a little shaken, to make the ink run more freely.

Penhook. See PENSTOCK.