gill

Etymology 1

From Middle English gile (“gill”) (early 14th century), of Scandinavian origin, akin to Swedish gäl, Danish gælle, Norwegian gjelle, and further to Old Norse gjǫlnar (“lips”), which also may have had the meaning of "gills" (based on Old Danish fiskegæln (“gills”)). The Old Norse word has been suggested as deriving from Proto-Germanic *gelunaz (“jaw”), which would make it root-cognate to Ancient Greek χελυνη (khelunē, “lip, jaw”), χεῖλος (kheîlos, “lip”). Displaced native Old English ċīe.

noun

1. (animal anatomy) A breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals.
2. (of a fish) A gill slit or gill cover.
   Gill nets are designed to catch a fish by the gills.
3. (mycology) One of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, the surface of which bears the spore-producing organs.
4. (animal anatomy) The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.
5. (figurative) The flesh under or about the chin; a wattle.
   dropsy fills you to the gills 1728, Jonathan Swift, Ballad on Ballyspellin
6. (spinning) One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments.

verb

1. To remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it.
   As we had fish home in the icebox, when Bill led the fish up alongside, I leaned over the combing, gilled the fish with my fingers, slid out the hook and let go. The bass lay there for a moment, tired from the arch of the rod and the pull of the line. 1948, Oliver Hazard Perry Rodman, The Saltwater Fisherman's Favorite Four, page 166
   She gutted and gilled the fish, then scaled it. 2014, Scott Tippett, Polaris, page 99
2. (transitive) To catch (a fish) in a gillnet.
   Owing to the peculiar shape of the pompano and the relatively large mesh in the pompano gill nets, the fish are not caught by being actually gilled. 1898, Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, page 255
   In cases of very heavy catches the nets may be hauled and stored with the fish still gilled. The fish would then be shaken out on return to the port. 1971, Michael Culley, G. A. Kerkut, The Pilchard: Biology and Exploitation →ISBN, page 70
   The intention is to gill the fish, so they are usually scared into the net by rowing one boat into the middle of the net circle and banging the oars on the boat bottom or splashing the water. 1994, G.D. Pickett, M.G. Pawson, Sea Bass: Biology, page 177
3. (intransitive) To be or become entangled in a gillnet.
   Since the fine threads of the net usually are caught under the gill covers of the fish they are said to be "gilled." 1926, Walter Koelz, Fishing industry of the Great Lakes, page 556
   Also, when fish gilled there wasn't as much extra twine to tangle in, so they were easier to release from the net. 2010, Edward A. Perrine, Midnight Tracy, page 147

Etymology 2

From Middle English gille, from Old French gille (“a wine measure”), from Medieval Latin gillo (“earthenware jar”), possibly from Gaulish gallā (“vessel”).

noun

1. A drink measure for spirits and wine, approximately a quarter of a pint, but varying regionally.
2. (archaic, Britain) A measuring jug holding a quarter or half a pint.
3. (dated, US) A unit of measure equal to 4 US fluid ounces (half a cup, a quarter of a US pint), approximately 118 milliliters.

Etymology 3

From Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil.

noun

1. (Britain) rivulet
2. (Britain) ravine

Etymology 4

Uncertain.

noun

1. a two-wheeled frame for transporting timber

Etymology 5

Clipping of gillian, from the female name Gillian.

noun

1. a female ferret
2. (obsolete) a promiscuous woman; harlot, wanton
3. (obsolete) a prostitute
   Gill comes from the Knight, that did so seek / To gaine her love; she's hir'd for a week. 1646, Humphrey Mill, “Section XXI”, in The Nights Search, Part 2, page 129

verb

1. (obsolete) To act as a prostitute.
   Comme proprement le fine of my Designs dey make; / Dam gilling Whore / Et Louis d'or 1719, Henry Playford, “Lewis Upon the Fret”, in Wit and Mirth: Or, Pills to Purge Melancholy, page 72