My computer's "Dictionary" is the New Oxford American Dictionary and it says:
quilt |kwilt|
noun
a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching, typically applied in a decorative design.
• a knitted or fabric bedspread with decorative stitching.
• a layer of padding used for insulation.
verb [ trans. ]
join together (layers of fabric or padding) with lines of stitching to form a bed covering or a warm garment, or for decorative effect.
DERIVATIVES
quilter noun
ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French cuilte, from Latin culcita ‘mattress, cushion.’
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I like the technical def. of Lori S. too!