gimlet

1 of 4

noun (1)

gim·​let ˈgim-lət 

: a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and cross handle for boring holes

Illustration of gimlet

gimlet

2 of 4

adjective

: having a piercing or penetrating quality

gimlet

3 of 4

verb

gimleted; gimleting; gimlets

transitive verb

: to pierce as if with a gimlet

gimlet

4 of 4

noun (2)

: a drink consisting of sweetened lime juice and gin or vodka and sometimes carbonated or plain water

Examples of gimlet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Just gazing at a rhubarb gimlet here is (almost) as enjoyable as quaffing it. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026

Parrish stood at the wheel, his gimlet eyes surveying the water beneath a threadbare Pink Floyd cap. —Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026

In the afternoon, perhaps after a day at nearby St. Stephen’s Green, the Gin and Tea Rooms serve up local farmhouse cheeses and classic cocktails, like a refreshing cucumber gimlet. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2025

Some investors have trained a gimlet eye on CoreWeave as more skeptics kick the tires of the booming AI trade and the concurrent infrastructure buildout. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French guimbelet, from Middle French (Picard), modification of Middle Dutch wimmelkijn, from wimmel wimble

Noun (2)

probably from gimlet entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1752, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1840, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1928, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gimlet

• gimlet-eyed

Rhymes for gimlet

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

gimlet

noun

gim·​let

ˈgim-lət

: a small tool with a screw point and cross handle for boring holes