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gilt

Pronunciation: /ɡɪlt/

The English word “gilt” has 7 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. Gold or other metal in a thin layer; gilding.
  2. Gold-colored paint or other coating.
  3. Money.
  4. A security (usually a bond) issued by the Bank of England (see gilt-edged).
  5. A gilded object, an object covered with gold.
  6. A young female pig, at or nearing the age of first breeding.

adjective

  1. Golden coloured; gilded.

Etymology

Past participle of gild (“to cover in gold”), thus meaning literally “(something) covered in gold”. Ultimately related to gold (which see). Compare feed, which is related (similarly by ablaut) to food. Cognate with Dutch (ver)guld, Icelandic gyllt and Faroese gylt.

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