gill

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈjil 

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

gill

2 of 6

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

see also:

to the gills

gill

3 of 6

verb

ˈgil 

gilled; gilling; gills

transitive verb

: gillnet

intransitive verb

of fish : to become entangled in a gill net

giller noun

gill

4 of 6

noun (3)

ˈgil 

1

British : ravine

2

British : a narrow stream or rivulet

gill

5 of 6

noun (4)

ˈjil 

variants often Gill

: girl, sweetheart

giller

6 of 6

noun (5)

gill·​er

ˈgilə(r)

plural -s

1

: one that guts fish

especially : a member of a fish-dressing gang who cuts out the gills and entrails of fish

2

: one that catches fish with a gill net

3

: one that supplies slivers to a gill box

Synonyms of gill

Noun (3)

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge
• valley

Noun (4)

• woman
• girlfriend
• girl
• gal
• lady

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

This is an absolute dream machine, packed to the gills with high-octane silicon that will dominate any modern game at maximum settings. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026

These had a head dominated by large eyes and a partially ossified jaw—but again, no external gills. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026

Tiny mineral deposits preserved within the gills appear to have acted as calcium stores, helping developing larvae build their shells — a process similar to what scientists observe in living freshwater mussels today. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026

The common white-button mushroom—the sort found on grocery shelves—comes in eighteen mating types, the fairy inkcap mushroom a hundred and forty-three, and the split-gill mushroom an astonishing twenty-three thousand three hundred and twenty-eight. — Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026

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) and Noun (5)

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

Rhymes for gill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill
• krill

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