n. [ OE. twilight, AS. twi- (see Twice) + leóht light; hence the sense of doubtful or half light; cf. LG. twelecht, G. zwielicht. See Light. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The light perceived before the rising, and after the setting, of the sun, or when the sun is less than 18° below the horizon, occasioned by the illumination of the earth's atmosphere by the direct rays of the sun and their reflection on the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. faint light; a dubious or uncertain medium through which anything is viewed. [ 1913 Webster ]

As when the sun . . . from behind the moon,
In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The twilight of probability. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Seen or done by twilight. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Imperfectly illuminated; shaded; obscure. [ 1913 Webster ]

O'er the twilight groves and dusky caves. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Twilled p. pr. & vb. n. Twilling. ] [ Scotch tweel; probably from LG. twillen to make double, from twi- two; akin to AS. twi-, E. twi- in twilight. See Twice, and cf. Tweed, Tweel. ] To weave, as cloth, so as to produce the appearance of diagonal lines or ribs on the surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Scotch tweel. See Twill, v. t. ] 1. An appearance of diagonal lines or ribs produced in textile fabrics by causing the weft threads to pass over one and under two, or over one and under three or more, warp threads, instead of over one and under the next in regular succession, as in plain weaving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fabric woven with a twill. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Perhaps fr. quill. ] A quill, or spool, for yarn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Willy. ] A machine for cleansing or loosening wool by the action of a revolving cylinder covered with long iron spikes or teeth; a willy or willying machine; -- called also twilly devil, and devil. See Devil, n., 6, and Willy. Tomlinson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Quilt. ] A quilt. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]