gill Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
  2. noun a United States liquid unit equal to 4 fluid ounces
  3. noun any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus
    lamella.
  4. noun respiratory organ of aquatic animals that breathe oxygen dissolved in water
    branchia.

WordNet

Gill noun
Etymology
Dan. giælle, gelle; akin to Sw. gäl, Icel. gjölnar gills; cf. AS. geagl, geahl, jaw.
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) An organ for aquatic respiration; a branchia.
    Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills. Ray.
    ✍ 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.) The radiating, gill-shaped plates forming the under surface of a mushroom.
  3. (Zoöl.) The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.
  4. The flesh under or about the chin. Swift.
  5. (Spinning) One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments. Prob. so called from F. aiguilles, needles. Ure.
Gill noun
Etymology
Etymol. uncertain.
Definitions
  1. A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber. Prov. Eng.
Gill noun
Definitions
  1. A leech. Also gell. Scot. Jameison.
Gill noun
Etymology
Icel. gil.
Definitions
  1. A woody glen; a narrow valley containing a stream. Prov. Eng. & Scot.
Gill noun
Etymology
OF. gille, gelle, a sort of measure for wine, LL. gillo, gello., Cf. Gallon.
Definitions
  1. A measure of capacity, containing one fourth of a pint.
Gill noun
Etymology
Abbrev. from Gillian.
Definitions
  1. A young woman; a sweetheart; a flirting or wanton girl. "Each Jack with his Gill." B. Jonson.
  2. (Bot.) The ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma); -- called also gill over the ground, and other like names.
  3. Malt liquor medicated with ground ivy.

Webster 1913