gill

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈjil How to pronounce gill (audio)
Synonyms of gillnext
: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see Weights and Measures Table

gill

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈgil How to pronounce gill (audio)
1
: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water
2
a
: wattle entry 3
b
: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws
—usually used in plural
c
: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom fungus
gilled
ˈgild How to pronounce gill (audio)
adjective

gill

3 of 5

verb

ˈgil How to pronounce gill (audio)
gilled; gilling; gills

transitive verb

: gillnet

intransitive verb

of fish : to become entangled in a gill net
giller noun

gill

4 of 5

noun (3)

ˈgil How to pronounce gill (audio)
1
British : ravine
2
British : a narrow stream or rivulet

gill

5 of 5

noun (4)

ˈjil How to pronounce gill (audio)
often capitalized
: girl, sweetheart
Phrases
to the gills
: as full or as much as possible
a suitcase packed to the gills

Synonyms

Noun (3)

Noun (4)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of gill in a Sentence

Noun (3) a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge Noun (4) every Jack must have his Gill
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That means the flights that do happen will likely be expensive and packed to the gills. — Allison Morrow, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 Like rays, sawfish gills are on their undersides, so their intake is frequently from the bottom. — Curt Anderson, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2025 Juvenile Japanese eels can escape from the stomachs of dark sleepers by pushing their tails back through the fish’s esophagus and out its gills. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024 Share [Findings] Juvenile Japanese eels can escape from the stomachs of dark sleepers by pushing their tails back through the fish’s esophagus and out its gills. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gill

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English gille, from Medieval Latin gillus, from Late Latin gillo, gello water pot

Noun (2)

Middle English gile, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish gäl gill, Old Norse gjǫlnar lips; akin to Greek chelynē lip, jawbone

Noun (3)

Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil; akin to Old High German gil hernia

Noun (4)

Middle English, from Gill, nickname for Gillian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing gill

Rhymes for gill

See All Rhymes for gill

Browse Nearby Words

gill
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gill. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun
ˈjil How to pronounce gill (audio)
: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see measure

gill

2 of 2 noun
ˈgil How to pronounce gill (audio)
1
: an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water
2
: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws
—usually used in plural
3
: one of the plates arranged in a circle and forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

Medical Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun
ˈjil How to pronounce gill (audio)
: either of two units of capacity:
a
: a British unit equal to ¹/₄ imperial pint or 8.669 cubic inches
b
: a United States liquid unit equal to ¹/₄ United States liquid pint or 7.218 cubic inches

gill

2 of 2 noun
ˈgil How to pronounce gill (audio)
1
: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water
2
: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom
gilled
ˈgild How to pronounce gill (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on gill

Nglish: Translation of gill for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gill

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