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.
1
To remove the gills from a fish as part of gutting and cleaning it.
As we had fish home in the icebox, when Bill led the fish up alongside, I leaned over the combing, gilled the fish with my fingers, slid out the hook and let go. The bass lay there for a moment, tired from the arch of the rod and the pull of the line.1948, Oliver Hazard Perry Rodman, The Saltwater Fisherman's Favorite Four, page 166:
She gutted and gilled the fish, then scaled it.2014, Scott Tippett, Polaris, →ISBN, page 99:
2
To catch (a fish) in a gillnet.
Owing to the peculiar shape of the pompano and the relatively large mesh in the pompano gill nets, the fish are not caught by being actually gilled.1898, Report of the Commissioner of Fisheries to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor, page 255:
In cases of very heavy catches the nets may be hauled and stored with the fish still gilled. The fish would then be shaken out on return to the port.1971, Michael Culley, G. A. Kerkut, The Pilchard: Biology and Exploitation →ISBN, page 70
1 more example
The intention is to gill the fish, so they are usually scared into the net by rowing one boat into the middle of the net circle and banging the oars on the boat bottom or splashing the water.1994, G.D. Pickett, M.G. Pawson, Sea Bass: Biology, →ISBN, page 177:
3
To be or become entangled in a gillnet.
Since the fine threads of the net usually are caught under the gill covers of the fish they are said to be "gilled."1926, Walter Koelz, Fishing industry of the Great Lakes, page 556:
Also, when fish gilled there wasn't as much extra twine to tangle in, so they were easier to release from the net.2010, Edward A. Perrine, Midnight Tracy, →ISBN, page 147:
Gill
noun
/ˈd͡ʒɪl/ · /ˈɡɪl/
Etymology * As an English surname, converged from variants of Giles (sometimes through Dutch), Julian, and William. * As a northern English surname, from Middle English gil (“ravine, glen”), from Old Norse gil. The Old Norse is also a source of the Norwegian surname. * As an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, variant of McGill. * Also as an Irish surname, variant of Gall. * As a Jewish/Israeli given name, as well as surname, from Hebrew גיל (“joy”). * As a German surname, variant of Gilger. * As a Sikh Punjabi surname originating in India, from ਗਿੱਲ (gill, “moisture”).
1
Ball games, Games, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Soccer, Sports Someone connected with Gillingham Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
Related terms
Gil
gill
noun
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.
1
Biology, Natural sciences, Zoology, Zootomy A breathing organ of fish and other aquatic animals.
Fishes […] perform their respiration under water by the gills.1691, John Ray, The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of the Creation. […], London: […] Samuel Smith, […], →OCLC:
2
Of a fish A gill slit or gill cover.
Gill nets are designed to catch a fish by the gills.
3
Biology, Mycology, Natural sciences One of the radial folds on the underside of the cap of a mushroom, the surface of which bears the spore-producing organs.
4
The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.
5
Figuratively The flesh under or about the chin; a wattle.
dropsy fills you to the gills1728, Jonathan Swift, Ballad on Ballyspellin:
6
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Spinning, Sports One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments.
Comme proprement le fine of my Designs dey make; / Dam gilling Whore / Et Louis d'or1719, Henry Playford, “Lewis Upon the Fret”, in Wit and Mirth: Or, Pills to Purge Melancholy, page 72:
Gill comes from the Knight, that did so seek / To gaine her love; she's hir'd for a week.1646, Humphrey Mill, “Section XXI”, in The Nights Search, Part 2, page 129: