gill

gill¹

—gill-less, adj. —gill-like, adj.

/gil/, n.

1. the respiratory organ of aquatic animals, as fish, that breathe oxygen dissolved in water.

2. Also called lamella. one of the radiating vertical plates on the underside of the cap of an agaric mushroom. See diag. under mushroom.

3. See ground ivy.

4. green or white around the gills, somewhat pale, as from being sickly, nervous, or frightened: When he heard how much the bill was, he looked a little green around the gills.

5. to the gills, Informal. fully; completely; totally: After that big meal we were all stuffed to the gills.

v.t.

6. to catch (fish) by the gills in a gill net.

7. to gut or clean (fish).

[1300-50; ME gile < Scand; cf. ON gjolnar < *gelno; c. Swed gäl, Dan gaelle, Norw gjelle gill]

gill²

/jil/, n.

a unit of liquid measure equal to ¹/₄ pint (118.2937 ml).

[1225-75; ME gille < OF: vat, tub < LL gello, gillo water pot]

gill³

/gil/, n. Brit.

1. a deep rocky cleft or wooded ravine forming the course of a stream.

2. a stream; brook; rivulet.

[1350-1400; ME gille < ON gil]

gill⁴

/jil/, n.

a girl or young woman; sweetheart.

[1400-50; late ME gil(le) generic use of Gil(le), short form of Gillian; see GILLIAN]

gill⁵

/gil/, Textiles.

n.

1. a faller used in the combing process, generally for only the highest-quality fibers.

v.t.

2. to comb (fibers) with a gill.

[1830-40; perh. special use of GILL¹]

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▪ measurement

also spelled  jill 

      in measurement, unit of volume in the British Imperial (British Imperial System) and United States Customary systems. It is used almost exclusively for the measurement of liquids. Although its capacity has varied with time and location, in the United States it is defined as half a cup, or four U.S. fluid ounces, which equals 7.219 cubic inches, or 118.29 cubic cm; in Great Britain the gill is five British fluid ounces, which equals 8.669 cubic inches, one-fourth pint, or 142.07 cubic cm.

      The gill was introduced in the 14th century to measure individual servings of whiskey or wine. The term jill appears in the nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill.” Soon after ascending to the throne of England in 1625, King Charles I (Charles I) scaled down the jack or jackpot (sometimes known as a double jigger) in order to collect higher sales taxes. The jill, by definition twice the size of the jack, was automatically reduced also and “came tumbling after.”

▪ respiratory system

      in biology, type of respiratory organ found in many aquatic animals, including a number of worms, nearly all mollusks and crustaceans, some insect larvae, all fishes, and a few amphibians. The gill consists of branched or feathery tissue richly supplied with blood vessels, especially near the gill surface, facilitating the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the surrounding water. The gills may be enclosed in cavities, through which the water is often forcibly pumped, or they may project from the body into the water.

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