gimlet

1 of 4

noun (1)

gim·​let ˈgim-lət How to pronounce gimlet (audio)
: a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and cross handle for boring holes

Illustration of gimlet

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
As a result, the daiquiri is made with banana rum, Aphrodite bitters, and spices; the gimlet contains Opihr gin, curry leaves, and pink peppercorns; and the martini combines vodka, Kashmiri chili, and pickle brine. Anna Sulan Masing, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2024 He’s got still-intact, onetime-heartthrob looks, bangs that fall right in the place that devastates you, and a smile that’s expressive even when his gimlet eyes aren’t. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2024 Then Ser Simon Strong interrupts, asking him about the duck, and Daemon comes back to reality at the dinner table, where Alys Rivers is watching him with a gimlet eye. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 14 July 2024 Take a moment to look at Europe’s burgeoning turmoil through Vladimir Putin’s gimlet eyes. Lee Hockstader, Washington Post, 12 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for gimlet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gimlet.' 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, 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

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

Dictionary Entries Near gimlet

Cite this Entry

“Gimlet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gimlet. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

gimlet

noun
gim·​let
ˈgim-lət
: a small tool with a screw point and cross handle for boring holes

More from Merriam-Webster on gimlet

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