gills

gill ¹  (gl)

n.

1. Zoology The respiratory organ of most aquatic animals that breathe water to obtain oxygen, consisting of a filamentous structure of vascular membranes across which dissolved gases are exchanged.

2.

a. The wattle of a bird. Often used in the plural.

b. gills Informal The area around the chin and neck.

3. Botany One of the thin, platelike structures on the underside of the cap of a mushroom or similar fungus.

v. gilled, gill·ing, gills

v.tr.

1. To catch (fish) in a gill net.

2. To gut or clean (fish).

v.intr.

To become entangled in a gill net. Used of fish.

Idiom:

to the gills Informal

As full as possible; completely.

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[Middle English gile, of Scandinavian origin.]

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gilled adj.

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gill ²  (jl)

n. Abbr. gi or gi.

1. A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in liquid measure, equal to ¹/₄ of a pint or four ounces (118 milliliters).

2. A unit of volume or capacity, used in dry and liquid measure, equal to ¹/₄ of a British Imperial pint (142 milliliters). See Table at measurement.

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[Middle English gille, from Old French, wine measure, from Late Latin gill, vessel for cooling liquids.]

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gill ³  (gl)

n. Chiefly British

1. A ravine.

2. A narrow stream.

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[Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil.]

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gill ⁴ also jill or Gill  (jl)

n.

A girl, often one's sweetheart.

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[Middle English gille, from Gille, a woman's name.]

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gills [gɪlz]

pl n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) (sometimes singular) the wattle of birds such as domestic fowl

green around or about the gills Informal looking or feeling nauseated

Translations

gills [ˈgɪlz] npl [fish] → ouïes fpl, branchies fpl