Adjacent Words

Gill definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

GILL, n.
1. The organ of respiration in fishes, consisting of a cartilaginous or bony arch, attached to the bones of the head, and furnished on the exterior convex side with a multitude of fleshy leaves, or fringed vascular fibrils, resembling plumes, and of a red color in a healthy state. The water is admitted by the gill-opening, and acts upon the blood as it circulates in the fibrils. Other animals also breathe by gills, as frogs in their tadpole state, lobsters, etc.
Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills.
2. The flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl.
3. The flesh under the chin.
4. In England, a pair of wheels and a frame on which timber is conveyed. [Local.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
2: a United States liquid unit equal to 4 fluid ounces
3: any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus [syn: gill, lamella]
4: respiratory organ of aquatic animals that breathe oxygen dissolved in water [syn: gill, branchia]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English gille, from Medieval Latin gillus, from Late Latin gillo, gello water pot Date: 14th century — see weight table II. noun Etymology: Middle English gile, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish gäl gill, Old Norse gj?lnar lips; akin to Greek chelyn? lip, jawbone Date: 14th century 1. an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water 2. a. wattle III b. the flesh under or about the chin or jaws — usually used in plural c. one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom fungus • gilled adjective III. verb Date: 1884 transitive verb gillnet intransitive verb of fish to become entangled in a gill net • giller noun IV. noun Etymology: Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil; akin to Old High German gil hernia Date: 14th century 1. British ravine 2. British a narrow stream or rivulet V. noun Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Middle English, from Gill, nickname for Gillian Date: 15th century girl, sweetheart

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. (usu. in pl.) 1 the respiratory organ in fishes and other aquatic animals. 2 the vertical radial plates on the underside of mushrooms and other fungi. 3 the flesh below a person's jaws and ears (green about the gills). 4 the wattles or dewlap of fowls. --v.tr. 1 gut (a fish). 2 cut off the gills of (a mushroom). 3 catch in a gill-net. Phrases and idioms: gill-cover a bony case protecting a fish's gills; an operculum. gill-net a net for entangling fishes by the gills. Derivatives: gilled adj. (also in comb.). Etymology: ME f. ON gil (unrecorded) f. Gmc 2. n. 1 a unit of liquid measure, equal to a quarter of a pint. 2 Brit. dial. half a pint. Etymology: ME f. OF gille, med.L gillo f. LL gello, gillo water-pot 3. n. (also ghyll) Brit. 1 a deep usu. wooded ravine. 2 a narrow mountain torrent. Etymology: ME f. ON gil glen 4. n. (also Gill, jill, Jill) 1 derog. a young woman. 2 colloq. or dial. a female ferret. Etymology: ME, abbr. of Gillian f. OF Juliane f. L Juliana (Julius)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gill Gill, n. [Abbrev. from Gillian.] 1. A young woman; a sweetheart; a flirting or wanton girl. ``Each Jack with his Gill.'' --B. Jonson. 2. (Bot.) The ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma); -- called also gill over the ground, and other like names. 3. Malt liquor medicated with ground ivy. Gill ale. (a) Ale flavored with ground ivy. (b) (Bot.) Alehoof.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gill Gill, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber. [Prov. Eng.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gill Gill, n. A leech. [Also gell.] [Scot.] --Jameison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gill Gill, n. [Icel. gil.] A woody glen; a narrow valley containing a stream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gill Gill, n. [OF. gille, gelle, a sort of measure for wine, LL. gillo, gello., Cf. Gallon.] A measure of capacity, containing one fourth of a pint.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Gill Gill, n. [Dan. gi[ae]lle, gelle; akin to Sw. g["a]l, Icel. gj["o]lnar gills; cf. AS. geagl, geahl, jaw.] 1. (Anat.) An organ for aquatic respiration; a branchia. Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills. --Ray. Note: Gills are usually lamellar or filamentous appendages, through which the blood circulates, and in which it is exposed to the action of the air contained in the water. In vertebrates they are appendages of the visceral arches on either side of the neck. In invertebrates they occupy various situations. 2. pl. (Bot.) The radiating, gill-shaped plates forming the under surface of a mushroom. 3. (Zo["o]l.) The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle. 4. The flesh under or about the chin. --Swift. 5. (Spinning) One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments. [Prob. so called from F. aiguilles, needles. --Ure.] Gill arches, Gill bars. (Anat.) Same as Branchial arches. Gill clefts. (Anat.) Same as Branchial clefts. See under Branchial. Gill cover, Gill lid. See Operculum. Gill frame, or Gill head (Flax Manuf.), a spreader; a machine for subjecting flax to the action of gills. --Knight. Gill net, a flat net so suspended in the water that its meshes allow the heads of fish to pass, but catch in the gills when they seek to extricate themselves. Gill opening, or Gill slit (Anat.), an opening behind and below the head of most fishes, and some amphibians, by which the water from the gills is discharged. In most fishes there is a single opening on each side, but in the sharks and rays there are five, or more, on each side. Gill rakes, or Gill rakers (Anat.), horny filaments, or progresses, on the inside of the branchial arches of fishes, which help to prevent solid substances from being carried into gill cavities.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(gills) Gills are the organs on the sides of fish and other water creatures through which they breathe. N-COUNT: usu pl

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Quarter of a pint. 2. (Bot.) Alehoof, haymaids, ground-ivy (Nepeta glechoma). 3. Sweetheart, dolly, doxy, wanton girl.

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

The abbreviation of Gillian, figuratively used for woman. Every jack has his gill; i.e. every jack has his gillian, or female mate.

Moby Thesaurus

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