Meaning and Origin
What does the name Gill mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
User Submitted Origins
- [Anat] An organ for aquatic respiration; a branchia."Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills." [Ray.]
- pl.[Bot] The radiating, gill-shaped plates forming the under surface of a mushroom.
- [Zoöl] The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.
- The flesh under or about the chin.
- [Spinning] One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments.
Etymology: Prob. so called from F. aiguilles, needles. Ure.
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.
Etymology: Dan. giælle gelle; akin to Sw. gäl, Icel. gjölnar gills; cf. AS. geagl geahl, jaw
Etymology: Etymol. uncertain
Etymology: Icel. gil
Etymology: OF. gille gelle, a sort of measure for wine, LL. gillo gello., Cf. Gallon
- A young woman; a sweetheart; a flirting or wanton girl."Each Jack with his Gill." [B. Jonson.]
- [Bot] The ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma); -- called also gill over the ground, and other like names.
- Malt liquor medicated with ground ivy.
Etymology: Abbrev. from Gillian
- Respiratory organ of aquatic animals that breathe oxygen dissolved in water
- Any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus
- A United States liquid unit equal to 4 fluid ounces
- A British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
From Middle English gile (“gill”), from Old Norse gjǫlnar (“lips”), from Proto-Germanic *gelunaz (“jaw”), related to Ancient Greek χεῖλος (kheîlos, “lip”).
- (animal anatomy) A breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals.
- (of a fish) A gill slit or gill cover.
- Gill nets are designed to catch a fish by the .
- (mycology) One of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, on the surface of which the spore-producing organs are borne.
- (animal anatomy) The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.
- (figuratively) The flesh under or about the chin; a wattle.
- (spinning) One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments.
From Old French gille (“a wine measure”), from Medieval Latin gillo (“earthenware jar”), possibly from Gaulish gallā (“vessel”).
- A drink measure for spirits and wine. Size varies regionally but it is about one quarter of a pint.
- (archaic, Britain) A measuring jug holding a quarter or half a pint.
From Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil
- (Britain) rivulet
- (Britain) ravine
Etymology uncertain.
- A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber.
Clipping of gillian, from the female name Gillian.
- A female ferret.
- (obsolete) A promiscuous woman; harlot, wanton.
- (obsolete) A prostitute.
gill was also found in the following language(s): Irish and Scottish Gaelic