jilt

[ jilt ]

/ dʒɪlt /

verb (used with object)

to reject or cast aside (a lover or sweetheart), especially abruptly or unfeelingly.

noun

a woman who jilts a lover.

Nearby words

Origin of jilt

1650–60; earlier jilt harlot, syncopated variant of jillet

Related formsjilt·er, nounun·jilt·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for jilter

She makes her predecessor (and jilter) Brad Womack, who's not very expressive, seem like Ryan Seacrest by comparison.
Eight Worst Things About ‘The Bachelorette’|Andy Dehnart|June 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for jilter

jilt

/ (dʒɪlt) /

verb

(tr) to leave or reject (a lover), esp without previous warningshe was jilted at the altar

noun

a woman who jilts a lover

Derived Formsjilter, noun

Word Origin for jilt

C17: from dialect jillet flighty girl, diminutive of proper name Gill

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

Word Origin and History for jilter

jilt

"to deceive (especially after holding out hopes), cheat, trick," 1660s, from the same source as jilt (n.). Related: Jilted; jilting.

jilt

1670s, "loose, unchaste woman; harlot;" also "woman who gives hope then dashes it," perhaps ultimately from Middle English gille "lass, wench," a familiar or contemptuous term for a woman or girl (mid-15c.), originally a shortened form of woman's name Gillian (see Jill).