gill

From Middle English gile (“gill”), from Old Norse gjǫlnar (“lips”), from Proto-Germanic *gelunaz (“jaw”), related to Ancient Greek χεῖλος (kheîlos, “lip”).

• IPA^(key): /ɡɪl/
• Rhymes: -ɪl

• Audio (US)

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gill (plural gills)

1. (animal anatomy) a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals
   • Ray

     Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills.

2. (of a fish) a gill slit or gill cover

   Gill nets are designed to catch a fish by the gills.

3. (mycology) one of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, on the surface of which the spore-producing organs are borne

   Synonym: lamella

4. (animal anatomy) the fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle
5. (figuratively) the flesh under or about the chin; a wattle

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Jonathan Swift to this entry?)

6. (spinning) one of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments

• lung

gill (third-person singular simple present gills, present participle gilling, simple past and past participle gilled)

1. to remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it
   • 2014, Scott Tippett, Polaris →ISBN, page 99:

     She gutted and gilled the fish, then scaled it.

2. (transitive) to catch (a fish) in a gillnet
   • 1898, Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, page 255:

     Owing to the peculiar shape of the pompano and the relatively large mesh in the pompano gill nets, the fish are not caught by being actually gilled.

   • 1971, Michael Culley, ‎G. A. Kerkut, The Pilchard: Biology and Exploitation →ISBN, page 70:

     In cases of very heavy catches the nets may be hauled and stored with the fish still gilled. The fish would then be shaken out on return to the port.

   • 1994, G.D. Pickett, ‎M.G. Pawson, Sea Bass: Biology →ISBN, page 177:

     The intention is to gill the fish, so they are usually scared into the net by rowing one boat into the middle of the net circle and banging the oars on the boat bottom or splashing the water.

3. (intransitive) to be or become entangled in a gillnet
   • 2010, Edward A. Perrine, Midnight Tracy →ISBN, page 147:

     Also, when fish gilled there wasn't as much extra twine to tangle in, so they were easier to release from the net.

• 1948, Oliver Hazard Perry Rodman, The Saltwater Fisherman's Favorite Four, page 166:

  As we had fish home in the icebox, when Bill led the fish up alongside, I leaned over the combing, gilled the fish with my fingers, slid out the hook and let go. The bass lay there for a moment, tired from the arch of the rod and the pull of the line.

• Walter Koelz, Fishing industry of the Great Lakes (1926), page 556: Since the fine threads of the net usually are caught under the gill covers of the fish they are said to be "gilled."

From Old French gille (“a wine measure”), from Medieval Latin gillo (“earthenware jar”), possibly from Gaulish gallā (“vessel”).

• IPA^(key): /dʒɪl/
• Rhymes: -ɪl
• Homophone: Jill

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gill (plural gills)

1. a drink measure for spirits and wine (size varies regionally but it is about one quarter of a pint)
2. (archaic, Britain) a measuring jug holding a quarter or half a pint

• gillie

From Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil

• IPA^(key): /ɡɪl/
• Rhymes: -ɪl

gill (plural gills)

1. (Britain) rivulet
2. (Britain) ravine

Etymology uncertain.

gill (plural gills)

1. a two-wheeled frame for transporting timber

You can help Wiktionary by providing a proper etymology.

• gill

gill (plural gills)

1. (Scotland) a leech

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Jamieson to this entry?)

Clipping of gillian, from the female name Gillian.

• jill

• IPA^(key): /dʒɪl/

gill (plural gills)

1. a female ferret
2. (obsolete) a promiscuous woman; harlot, wanton
3. (obsolete) a prostitute
   • 1646, Mill, Humphrey, “Section XXI”, in The Nights Search, Part 2‎, page 129:

     Gill comes from the Knight, that did so seek / To gaine her love; she's hir'd for a week.

• (promiscuous woman): see Thesaurus:promiscuous woman
• (prostitute): see Thesaurus:prostitute

gill (third-person singular simple present gills, present participle gilling, simple past and past participle gilled)

1. (obsolete) To act as a prostitute.
   • 1719, Playford, Henry, “Lewis Upon the Fret”, in Wit and Mirth: Or, Pills to Purge Melancholy, page 72:

     Comme proprement le fine of my Designs dey make; / Dam gilling Whore / Et Louis d'or

gill m

1. vocative/genitive singular of geall (“pledge, security; wager, bet; gage, challenge; palm, prize; supremacy; token, promise; assets”)

• "gill" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.

Compare English gill.

gill (plural gills)

1. a measure of liquid equivalent to one-fourth of a mutchkin or three quarters of an Imperial gill, about 110 millilitres; (by extension) a serving of drink
   • 1864, James Patterson, Reminiscences of Auld Ayr‎, page 101:

     […] it will be strange if you and me part dry mouthed ; mony a gill I’ve got frae you ; it’s my turn this time.

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

2. a vessel with a capacity of one gill

• Hawick gill

gill (third-person singular present gills, present participle gilling, past gill'd, past participle gill'd)

1. to drink, tipple

From Old Norse gil, Norwegian gjel (“gorge, ravine”), attested a. 1500.

gill (plural gills)

1. a narrow valley with steep sides, a gully

• “gill” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.

gill m

1. inflection of geall (“bet, wager”):
   1. vocative/genitive singular
   2. nominative/dative plural