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gill¹

(gĭl)

1. Zoology The respiratory organ of most aquatic animals that obn oxygen from water, consisting of a filamentous structure of vascular membranes across which dissolved gases are exchanged.

a. oftengillsThe wattle of a bird.

b. gillsInformal The area around the chin and neck.

3. Botany One of the thin, platelike structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus.

v.gilled, gill·ing, gills

v.tr.

1. To catch (fish) in a gill net.

2. To gut or clean (fish).

v.intr.

To become entangled in a gill net. Used of fish.

Idiom:

to the gillsInformal

As full as possible; completely.

[Middle Englishgile, of Scandinavian origin.]

gilledadj.

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gill1

A fish breathes by swallowing water and passing it through gill slits on each side of its head. Blood-filled filaments on the gills extract oxygen from the water as it flows through.

gill²

(jĭl)

n. Abbr. gi or gi.

1. A unit of volume or capacity in the US Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to ¹/₄ of a pint or four ounces (118 milliliters).

2. A unit of volume or capacity, used in dry and liquid measure, equal to ¹/₄ of a British Imperial pint (142 milliliters).

[Middle English gille, from Old French, wine measure, from Late Latin gillō, vessel for cooling liquids.]

gill³

(gĭl)

n.
Chiefly British

1. A ravine.

2. A narrow stream.

[Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil.]

gill⁴ also jill or Gill

(jĭl)

n.
Obsolete

A girl, often one's sweetheart.

[Middle English gille, from Gille, a woman's name.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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