gill Definition

gill¹
noun

1. In all fishes and many other aquatic animals: a respiratory organ that extracts dissolved oxygen from the surrounding water.
2. See lamella sense 3.
3. colloq
The flesh around the jaw.
Form: gills

Idiom: green about the gills

See under green.

Etymology: 14c: perhaps from Scandinavian.

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gill²
noun

1. In the UK: a unit of liquid measure equal to 142.1ml or a quarter of a pint.
2. colloq
An alcoholic drink.

Etymology: 13c: from French gelle.

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gill³
ghyll
noun

1. A deep wooded ravine.
2. A mountain stream.

Etymology: 15c: from Norse gil. The variant spelling was apparently invented by Wordsworth.

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gill⁴
noun

(Brit)
1. A female feret, weasel or polecat.

Etymology: 19c in this sense; 15c used a contemptuous term for a woman: a shortened form of the female name Gillian.