gill

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈjil 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see Weights and Measures Table

gill

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈgil 

1

: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water

2

a

: wattle entry 3

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

ˈgild 

adjective

gill

3 of 5

verb

ˈgil 

gilled; gilling; gills

transitive verb

: gillnet

intransitive verb

of fish : to become entangled in a gill net

giller noun

gill

4 of 5

noun (3)

ˈgil 

1

British : ravine

2

British : a narrow stream or rivulet

gill

5 of 5

noun (4)

ˈjil 

often capitalized

: girl, sweetheart

Phrases

to the gills

: as full or as much as possible

a suitcase packed to the gills

Synonyms

Noun (3)

• canyon
• cañon
• col
• couloir
• defile
• flume
• gap
• gorge
• gulch
• gulf
• kloof [South African]
• linn [chiefly Scottish]
• notch
• pass
• ravine
• saddle

Noun (4)

• gal
• girl
• girlfriend
• inamorata
• lady
• ladylove
• old lady
• woman

Examples of gill in a Sentence

Noun (3)

a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District

a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge

Noun (4)

every Jack must have his Gill

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Thirteen were able to push their tails out of the gills, and nine successfully emerged from the fish. —Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

Punch it in the nose, punch it in the eyes, punch it in the gills, use your hand to pry the snout off your arm. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 4 July 2024

Beginning around 390 million years ago, however, the ancestors of modern land animals rose out of the waters, trading their fins for limbs and gills for lungs. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Oct. 2024

Part of what makes these particular pitchers unique are their anatomically correct fish fins, gills and scales. —Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English gille, from Medieval Latin gillus, from Late Latin gillo, gello water pot

Noun (2)

Middle English gile, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish gäl gill, Old Norse gjǫlnar lips; akin to Greek chelynē lip, jawbone

Noun (3)

Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil; akin to Old High German gil hernia

Noun (4)

Middle English, from Gill, nickname for Gillian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gill

• gill arch
• gill cleft
• gill cover
• gill net
• gill raker
• gill slit

Kids Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun

ˈjil 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see measure

gill

2 of 2 noun

ˈgil 

1

: an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water

2

: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws

—usually used in plural

3

: one of the plates arranged in a circle and forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

Medical Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun

ˈjil 

: either of two units of capacity:

a

: a British unit equal to ¹/₄ imperial pint or 8.669 cubic inches

b

: a United States liquid unit equal to ¹/₄ United States liquid pint or 7.218 cubic inches

gill

2 of 2 noun

ˈgil 

1

: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water

2

: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

gilled

ˈgild 

adjective