gilt

1 of 3

adjective

ˈgilt 

: covered with gold or gilt : of the color of gold

gilt

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: gold or something that resembles gold laid on a surface

2

slang : money

3

: superficial brilliance

4

: a bond issued by the government of the United Kingdom

gilt

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a young female swine

Examples of gilt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Early images from the movie show Hathaway in a golden halo-like headdress and gilt bodysuit, looking like Cher meets the Virgin Mary — and, well, I’m sold. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025

One is the savior goddess Tara, as seen in a 14th-century gilt copper sculpture from Nepal. —Holland Cotter, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024

Noun

Traders in the region are monitoring developments in the U.K. market, as yields on some gilts — British government bonds — hit their highest levels in decades this week. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2025

In Britain, worries over the country’s borrowing needs contributed to a sharp sell-off in the nation’s government bonds, known as gilts, with the yield on the 10-year note rising 0.24 percentage points, on course for its biggest one-week move in a year. —Joe Rennison, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun (1)

Middle English, from past participle of gilden to gild

Noun (2)

Middle English gylte, from Old Norse gyltr; akin to Old English gelde sterile — more at geld

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gilt

• gilt-edge
• gilt-edged

Kids Definition

gilt

1 of 3 adjective

ˈgilt 

: of the color of gold

gilt

2 of 3 noun

: gold or something like gold laid on a surface

gilt

3 of 3 noun

: a young female pig

Medical Definition

gilt

noun

ˈgilt 

: a young female swine