GILL

gill, branchia

(noun) respiratory organ of aquatic animals that breathe oxygen dissolved in water

gill, lamella

(noun) any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus

gill

(noun) a United States liquid unit equal to 4 fluid ounces

gill

(noun) a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters

Source: WordNet® 3.1

---

Proper noun

Gill

A diminutive of the male given names Giles, Julian, William, of medieval usage.

A diminutive of the female given name Gillian, variant of Jill.

A Scottish and Northern English habitational surname for someone who lived near a gill.

A Scottish and Irish patronymic surname, an alternate anglicization of Mac an Ghoill (McGill).

A male given name from surnames, of modern usage.

A locale in United States.

A town in Massachusetts; named for Massachusetts politician Moses Gill.

An unincorporated community in Colorado; named for early landowner William H. Gill.

An unincorporated community in Texas.

An unincorporated community in West Virginia; named for an early postmaster.

A ghost town in South Dakota; named for early postmaster Carl M. Gilberg.

A Punjabi surname from ਗਿੱਲ.

Noun

Gill (plural Gills)

(soccer) Someone connected with Gillingham Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.

Statistics

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Gill is the 435^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 74,948 individuals. Gill is most common among White (65.23%), Black (13.96%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (13.43%) individuals.

Etymology 1

Noun

gill (plural gills)

(animal anatomy) a breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals

(of a fish) a gill slit or gill cover

(mycology) one of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, on the surface of which the spore-producing organs are borne

Synonym: lamella

(animal anatomy) the fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle

(figuratively) the flesh under or about the chin; a wattle

(spinning) one of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments

Verb

gill (third-person singular simple present gills, present participle gilling, simple past and past participle gilled)

to remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it

(transitive) to catch (a fish) in a gillnet

(intransitive) to be or become entangled in a gillnet

Etymology 2

Noun

gill (plural gills)

a drink measure for spirits and wine (size varies regionally but it is about one quarter of a pint)

(archaic, British) a measuring jug holding a quarter or half a pint

Etymology 3

Noun

gill (plural gills)

(British) rivulet

(British) ravine

Etymology 4

Noun

gill (plural gills)

a two-wheeled frame for transporting timber

Etymology 5

Noun

gill (plural gills)

(Scotland) a leech

Etymology 6

Noun

gill (plural gills)

a female ferret

(obsolete) a promiscuous woman; harlot, wanton

(obsolete) a prostitute

Synonyms

• (promiscuous woman): see promiscuous woman

• (prostitute): see prostitute

Verb

gill (third-person singular simple present gills, present participle gilling, simple past and past participle gilled)

(obsolete) To act as a prostitute.

Synonyms

• see prostitute oneself

Source: Wiktionary

---

Gill, n. Etym: [Dan. giælle, gelle; akin to Sw. gäl, Icel. gjölnar gills; cf. AS. geagl, geahl, jaw.]

1. (Anat.)

Definition: An organ for aquatic respiration; a branchia. Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills. Ray.

Note: Gills are usually lamellar or filamentous appendages, through which the blood circulates, and in which it is exposed to the action of the air contained in the water. In vertebrates they are appendages of the visceral arches on either side of the neck. In invertebrates they occupy various situations.

2. pl. (Bot.)

Definition: The radiating, gill-shaped plates forming the under surface of a mushroom.

3. (Zoöl.)

Definition: The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.

4. The flesh under or about the chin. Swift.

5. (Spinning)

Definition: One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments. Etym: [Prob. so called from F. aiguilles, needles. Ure.] Gill arches, Gill bars. (Anat.) Same as Branchial arches.

– Gill clefts. (Anat.) Same as Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.

– Gill cover, Gill lid. See Operculum.

– Gill frame, or Gill head (Flax Manuf.), a spreader; a machine for subjecting flax to the action of gills. Knight.

– Gill net, a flat net so suspended in the water that its meshes allow the heads of fish to pass, but catch in the gills when they seek to extricate themselves.

– Gill opening, or Gill slit (Anat.), an opening behind and below the head of most fishes, and some amphibians, by which the water from the gills is discharged. In most fishes there is a single opening on each side, but in the sharks and rays there are five, or more, on each side.

– Gill rakes, or Gill rakers (Anat.), horny filaments, or progresses, on the inside of the branchial arches of fishes, which help to prevent solid substances from being carried into gill cavities.

Gill, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Definition: A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber. [Prov. Eng.]

Gill, n.

Definition: A leech. [Also gell.] [Scot.] Jameison.

Gill, n. Etym: [Icel. gil.]

Definition: A woody glen; a narrow valley containing a stream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Gill, n. Etym: [OF. gille, gelle, a sort of measure for wine, LL. gillo, gello., Cf. Gallon.]

Definition: A measure of capacity, containing one fourth of a pint.

Gill, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from Gillian.]

1. A young woman; a sweetheart; a flirting or wanton girl. "Each Jack with his Gill." B. Jonson.

2. (Bot.)

Definition: The ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma); -- called also gill over the ground, and other like names.

3. Malt liquor medicated with ground ivy. Gill ale. (a) Ale flavored with ground ivy. (b) (Bot.) Alehoof.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

---