Showing results for "gilt"

• 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

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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

See Examples For:

gilt

While the gilt market took Burnham’s fiscal plans in its stride, investors will want to see the arithmetic in the October 28 autumn budget, Monex Europe analysts said in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

The paper says investors have signalled that the gilt market "would not be spooked" by a more modest target, adding that the Treasury and Number 10 are "actively debating" the possibility.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

The U.K. plans to conduct two programmatic gilt tenders on Tuesday for the January 2029 gilt and December 2040 gilt.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Joining the selloff, the 10-year U.K. gilt hit 5.295%, the highest since 2007.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

The skin of her hand that held the pipe’s end was stretched over her little bones as smooth and as yellow as the gilt upon an idol.

From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck

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Related Words

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

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