Showing Results for "gilt"

See Also:

• past participle of gild.
• past tense form of gild.

gilt

¹ American  

[gilt] / gɪlt /

verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of gild.

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adjective

1. gilded.

2. gold in color; golden.

noun

1. the thin layer of gold or other material applied in gilding.

2. gilt-edged security.

gilt ² American  

[gilt] / gɪlt /

noun

1. a young female swine, especially one that has not produced a litter.

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gilt ¹ British  

/ ɡɪlt /

verb

1. a past tense and past participle of gild 1

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noun

1. gold or a substance simulating it, applied in gilding

2. another word for gilding gilding

3. superficial or false appearance of excellence; glamour

4. a gilt-edged security

5. to destroy the part of something that gives it its appeal

adjective

1. covered with or as if with gold or gilt; gilded

gilt ² British  

/ ɡɪlt /

noun

1. a young female pig, esp one that has not had a litter

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Etymology

Origin of gilt¹

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Origin of gilt²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gilte, Old Norse gylta

Explanation

All those gold framed pictures you see hanging in museums? They're covered in gilt — a very thin layer of gold leaf, like paper, applied to the surface. A common term associated with gilt is gilt-edged, implying something known to be reliably wealthy. Anything can be gilt-edged: a person, a town, or a reputation. The term comes from a form of government-issued bond, known as a gilt, which was originally gilded around the edges. Don't confuse gilt with guilt, which sounds the same but means a sense of knowing you've done something wrong. (Though, if you've stolen a gilt, does that make you gilty?)

Example Sentences

Gilt yields fell even as yields on their eurozone peers rose.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

In Britain, 10-year Gilt yields traded as the highest levels since 2008 on Friday, extending a 50 basis point surge over the past two sessions, following hawkish rate signals from the Bank of England.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

One of the reasons UK government borrowing costs, or Gilt yields, temporarily spiked upwards in January, was because American government bond yields had also risen.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2025

Gilt yields remain more than half a percentage point above levels seen before the Sept. 23 'mini budget' and markets moved back to price a full percentage point BoE rate rise at next month's meeting.

From Reuters • Oct. 17, 2022

The morning after that supper in the Gilt Edge, Anne came in to do the marketing and stopped at the Exchange.

From The Girl at Central by Bonner, Geraldine

Related Words

• gaudy
• gleaming
• glittering
• golden
• lustrous
• painted
• sparkling