gill

[ gil ]

/ gɪl /

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noun

the respiratory organ of aquatic animals, as fish, that breathe oxygen dissolved in water.

Also called lamella . one of the radiating vertical plates on the underside of the cap of an agaric mushroom.

ground ivy.

verb (used with object)

to gut or clean (fish).

to catch (fish) by the gills in a gill net.

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Idioms about gill

green / white around the gills, somewhat pale, as from being sickly, nervous, or frightened: The tourists were seasick—all of them green around the gills as the boat rocked back to shore.

to the gills, Informal. completely; fully; totally: After that big meal we were all stuffed to the gills.

Origin of gill

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gile, from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse gjǫlnar, from unattested gelnō; cognate with Swedish gäl, Danish gælle, Norwegian gjelle “gill”

OTHER WORDS FROM gill

gill-less, adjectivegill-like, adjective

Words nearby gill

gilgai, Gilgal, Gilgamesh, gilgul, gilguy, gill, gill arch, Gillard, gill bar, gill book, gill box

Other definitions for gill (2 of 6)

gill²

[ jil ]

/ dʒɪl /

noun

a unit of liquid measure equal to ¼ pint (118.2937 milliliters).

Origin of gill

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English gille, from Old French: “vat, tub,” from Late Latin gello, gillo “water pot”

Other definitions for gill (3 of 6)

gill³

[ gil ]

/ gɪl /

noun British.

a deep rocky cleft or wooded ravine forming the course of a stream.

a stream; brook; rivulet.

Origin of gill

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil

Other definitions for gill (4 of 6)

gill⁴

[ jil ]

/ dʒɪl /

noun Archaic.

a girl or young woman, especially a sweetheart.

Origin of gill

⁴

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English gil(le) (generic use of Gil(le), short form of Gillian; see Gillian

Other definitions for gill (5 of 6)

gill⁵

[ gil ]

/ gɪl /

Textiles.

noun

a faller used in the combing process, generally for only the highest-quality fibers.

verb (used with object)

to comb (fibers) with a gill.

Origin of gill

⁵

First recorded in 1830–40; perhaps special use of gill¹

Other definitions for gill (6 of 6)

Gill

[ gil for 1; jil for 2 ]

/ gɪl for 1; dʒɪl for 2 /

noun

a male given name.

a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gill in a sentence

As members of Congress interviewed the key players in the GameStop saga, Reddit users on the investing forum WallStreetBets published live commentary, cheering on Gill, who has become a folk hero in online trading communities.
Congress presses Robinhood CEO on company’s role in GameStop stock frenzy|Tory Newmyer, Douglas MacMillan, Hamza Shaban|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
Debra O’Malley, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts secretary of the commonwealth, said earlier this month that the state was examining Gill’s social media activity as it relates to his former role at MassMutual.
Three theories GameStop witnesses hope to dispel|Douglas MacMillan|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
On wallstreetbets, Gill’s fans debated whether he could retire and live off his dividends.
The GameStop stock craze is about a populist uprising against Wall Street. But it’s more complicated than that.|David J. Lynch|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
“Now we must ensure all LGBTQ Americans are protected from discrimination,” Gill and Miller conclude.
Gill Foundation puts up $1 million for campaign to expand LGBTQ civil rights|Chris Johnson|January 20, 2021|Washington Blade

It’s less clear how a single dose of Pfizer’s vaccine stacks up against a double dose, which is 95 percent effective—but Gill says the data suggests that one shot is around 90 percent effective.
Why two doses of the new COVID-19 vaccines are better that one|Tara Santora|December 26, 2020|Popular-Science
“I feel sorry for what she did to Russ and his daughter,” Gill said.
Open-Carry Militia Mom ‘Murders’ Family|Brandy Zadrozny|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“She was hot-headed, had her own way of doing things,” Gill said—and so, he left to form a separate militia group.
Open-Carry Militia Mom ‘Murders’ Family|Brandy Zadrozny|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another was Faisal Gill, a U.S. Navy veteran, who had in the past secured the GOP nomination for the Virginia House of Delegates.
New NSA Bombshell Proves ‘Muslim’ Equals ‘Suspicious’ in America|Dean Obeidallah|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our latest episode of “I Am Moral Courage” profiles a rare citizen, Randi Gill from Oklahoma.
Detention Worker Stands Up for Prisoners’ Rights|Moral Courage|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A week later Gill, 32, was taking a break in the Lake District, a picturesque sweep of mountains outside Manchester.
How to Hustle Your Way to the Oscars|Nico Hines|February 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most significant of these is that in which the embryo is closely assimilated to the fish, by the possession of gill slits.
Man And His Ancestor|Charles Morris
After the boiling has ceased, but before it is cold, add one gill of spirits of wine, and a grain of musk.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Captain Gill had been so kind as to send after me a choice tiffen, together with table and chairs, into this wilderness.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
Half a gill of rum to two of water was served out once a day to each man.
The British Expedition to the Crimea|William Howard Russell
It would not have been difficult to imagine in the midst of that swelling mass the shapes of fins and gill-coverings.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo

British Dictionary definitions for gill (1 of 5)

gill¹

/ (ɡɪl) /

noun

the respiratory organ in many aquatic animals, consisting of a membrane or outgrowth well supplied with blood vessels. External gills occur in tadpoles, some molluscs, etc; internal gills, within gill slits, occur in most fishesRelated adjective: branchial

any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

verb

to catch (fish) or (of fish) to be caught in a gill net

(tr) to gut (fish)

Derived forms of gill

gilled, adjectivegill-less, adjectivegill-like, adjective

Word Origin for gill

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish gäl, Danish gjælle, Greek khelunē lip

British Dictionary definitions for gill (2 of 5)

gill²

/ (dʒɪl) /

noun

a unit of liquid measure equal to one quarter of a pint

Northern English dialect half a pint, esp of beer

Word Origin for gill

C14: from Old French gille vat, tub, from Late Latin gillō cooling vessel for liquids, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for gill (3 of 5)

gill³

ghyll

/ (ɡɪl) /

noun dialect

a narrow stream; rivulet

a wooded ravine

(capital when part of place name) a deep natural hole in rock; potholeGaping Gill

Word Origin for gill

C11: from Old Norse gil steep-sided valley

British Dictionary definitions for gill (4 of 5)

gill⁴

/ (dʒɪl) /

noun

archaic a girl or sweetheart

dialect a female ferretAlso spelt: jill

an archaic or dialect name for ground ivy

Word Origin for gill

C15: special use of Gill, short for Gillian, girl's name

British Dictionary definitions for gill (5 of 5)

Gill

/ (ɡɪl) /

noun

(Arthur) Eric (Rowton). 1882–1940, British sculptor, engraver, and typographer: his sculptures include the Stations of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral, London

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for gill

gill

[ gĭl ]

The organ that enables most aquatic animals to take dissolved oxygen from the water. It consists of a series of membranes that have many small blood vessels. Oxygen passes into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide passes out of it as water flows across the membranes.

One of the thin strips of tissue on the underside of the cap of many species of basidiomycete fungi. Gills produce the spore-bearing structures known as basidia.

gill

Idioms about gill

Origin of gill

OTHER WORDS FROM gill

Words nearby gill

Other definitions for gill (2 of 6)

Origin of gill

Other definitions for gill (3 of 6)

Origin of gill

Other definitions for gill (4 of 6)

Origin of gill

Other definitions for gill (5 of 6)

Origin of gill

Other definitions for gill (6 of 6)

Words related to gill

How to use gill in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gill (1 of 5)

Derived forms of gill

Word Origin for gill

British Dictionary definitions for gill (2 of 5)

Word Origin for gill

British Dictionary definitions for gill (3 of 5)

ghyll

Word Origin for gill

British Dictionary definitions for gill (4 of 5)

Word Origin for gill

British Dictionary definitions for gill (5 of 5)

Scientific definitions for gill