gill

1 of 5

noun (1)

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

gill

2 of 5

noun (2)

1
: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water
2
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

gill

3 of 5

verb

gilled; gilling; gills

intransitive verb

of fish : to become entangled in a gill net
giller noun

gill

4 of 5

noun (3)

1
British : ravine
2
British : a narrow stream or rivulet

gill

5 of 5

noun (4)

often capitalized
Phrases
to the gills
: as full or as much as possible
a suitcase packed to the gills

Examples of gill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Her green dress summons the illusion that Björk is a scaly creature, one who breathes through gills and uses a tail to propel herself through lakes, rivers and oceans. Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Next, the gills and guts are cut away and the blood drained to preserve freshness and flavor. Tom Fowlks, Outdoor Life, 1 Feb. 2024 Fifteen years ago, during the Lance Armstrong heyday, pretty much everyone was doped to the gills. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2023 Diligence and patience can turn up a monster ‘gill of 10 to 12 inches. David A. Brown, Field & Stream, 28 Feb. 2024 Place cut mushrooms on a sunny windowsill or balcony, with gills facing up, for up to two hours. Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024 Ask the fishmonger to scale and gut the fish, and to remove the gills, which can impart a bitter flavor. Domenica Marchetti, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The garage is packed to the gills, and this project needs to start there. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2024 The garage is packed to the gills and this project needs to start there. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gill was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near gill

Cite this Entry

“Gill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gill. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun
: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see measure

gill

2 of 2 noun
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
: 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
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 adjective

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