Gill

/ɡɪl/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A gill is a respiratory organ found in many aquatic organisms, such as fish, that allows them to extract oxygen from water.

Fish use their gills to breathe underwater.

A gill is also a unit of measurement for liquids, typically equal to one-fourth of a US pint or about 118 milliliters.

Please pour me a gill of whiskey.

Middle English 'gille', from Old Norse 'gild', meaning 'to pay or tribute'.

gill net

A type of fishing net used to catch fish by entangling their gills.

gill slits

The openings in fish where water exits after passing over the gills.

branch

A part of a tree or shrub that grows out from the trunk.

gillnet

A type of net used for fishing that targets fish by gill entanglement.

A term used informally for a drink.

Let's grab a gill at the pub.