gill

Meanings

Plural: gills

Noun

a British imperial capacity unit (liquid or dry) equal to 5 fluid ounces or 142.066 cubic centimeters
a United States liquid unit equal to 4 fluid ounces
any of the radiating leaflike spore-producing structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus
respiratory organ of aquatic animals that breathe oxygen dissolved in water
A breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals.
A gill slit or gill cover.
One of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, the surface of which bears the spore-producing organs.
The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.
The flesh under or about the chin; a wattle.
One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments.
A drink measure for spirits and wine, approximately a quarter of a pint, but varying regionally.
A measuring jug holding a quarter or half a pint.
A unit of measure equal to 4 US fluid ounces (half a cup, a quarter of a US pint), approximately 118 milliliters.
A rivulet, small stream.
A ravine.
A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber.
A female ferret.
A promiscuous woman; harlot, wanton.
A prostitute.

Verb

To remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it.
To catch (a fish) in a gillnet.
To be or become entangled in a gillnet.
To act as a prostitute.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English gille, gylle (“gill”), of North Germanic origin, akin to Danish gælle, Swedish gäl, 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 *gelunō (“jaw”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel-, which would make it root-cognate to Ancient Greek χελύνη (khelúnē, “lip, jaw”), χεῖλος (kheîlos, “lip”).
Displaced native Old English ċīe.

Synonyms

branchia, lamella, promiscuous woman, prostitute, prostitute oneself

Scrabble Score: 5

gill is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
gill is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gill is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

gill is a valid Words With Friends word