gill

UK: /'ɡɪl/

US: /gɪl/

US: 'gill': (gil for 1, 3, 5; jil for 2, 4); 'Gill': (gil for 1; jil for 2)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gill¹ /gɪl/   n. [countable]

1. Zoology the breathing organ of some water animals, as fish, that breathe oxygen dissolved in water.

Idioms

2. Idioms green or white around the gills, somewhat pale, as from sickness:
   He looked a little green around the gills after that rough boat ride.
3. Idioms to the gills, [Informal.] as full as possible:
   was filled to the gills with medications.

gill² /dʒɪl/   n. [countable]

1. Weights and Measures a unit of liquid measure equal to ¼ of a pint (118.2937 ml).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gill¹  (gil), n. 

1. Zoology the respiratory organ of aquatic animals, as fish, that breathe oxygen dissolved in water.
2. Fungi Also called lamella. one of the radiating vertical plates on the underside of the cap of an agaric mushroom. See diag. under mushroom. 
3. Plant Biology See ground ivy. 
4. green or white around the gills, somewhat pale, as from being sickly, nervous, or frightened:
   When he heard how much the bill was, he looked a little green around the gills.
5. Idioms to the gills, [Informal.] fully;
   completely;
   totally:
   After that big meal we were all stuffed to the gills.

v.t. 

6. Idioms to catch (fish) by the gills in a gill net.
7. to gut or clean (fish).

• *gelnō; cognate with Swed gäl, Danish gælle, Norwegian gjelle gill
• Scandinavian; compare Old Norse gjǫlnar
• Middle English gile 1300–50

gill′-less, adj. 
gill′-like′, adj. 

gill²  (jil), n. 

1. Weights and Measures a unit of liquid measure equal to ¼ pint (118.2937 ml).

• Late Latin gello, gillo water pot
• Old French: vat, tub
• Middle English gille 1225–75

gill³  (gil), n. [Brit.]

1. British Terms a deep rocky cleft or wooded ravine forming the course of a stream.
2. British Terms a stream;
   brook;
   rivulet.

• Old Norse gil
• Middle English gille 1350–1400

gill⁴  (jil), n. 

1. a girl or young woman;
   sweetheart.

• 1400–50; late Middle English gil(le) generic use of Gil(le), short form of Gillian; see Gillian

gill⁵  (gil), [Textiles.]
n. 

1. Textiles a faller used in the combing process, generally for only the highest-quality fibers.

v.t. 

2. Textiles to comb (fibers) with a gill.

• perh. special use of gill¹ 1830–40

Gill  (gil for 1; jil for 2), n. 

1. a male given name.
2. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gill / ɡɪl/ noun

1. the respiratory organ in many aquatic animals, consisting of a membrane or outgrowth well supplied with blood vessels. External gills occur in tadpoles, some molluscs, etc; internal gills, within gill slits, occur in most fishes
2. any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

Etymology: 14th Century: of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish gäl, Danish gjælle, Greek khelunē lip

gilled adjective

gill / dʒɪl/ noun

1. a unit of liquid measure equal to one quarter of a pint

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French gille vat, tub, from Late Latin gillō cooling vessel for liquids, of obscure origin

gill, ghyll / ɡɪl/ noun

1. a narrow stream; rivulet
2. a wooded ravine

Etymology: 11th Century: from Old Norse gil steep-sided valley

gill / dʒɪl/ noun

1. an archaic or dialect name for ground ivy

Etymology: 15th Century: special use of Gill, short for Gillian, girl's name

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Gill / ɡɪl/ noun

1. (Arthur) Eric (Rowton). 1882–1940, British sculptor, engraver, and typographer: his sculptures include the Stations of the Cross in Westminster Cathedral, London