gilt
gilt Lexical Profile
gilt Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Covered thinly with gold leaf or gold paint; having a bright, golden appearance.
"The antique mirror was set in an ornate gilt frame that gleamed in the candlelight."
• noun
A thin layer of gold leaf, gold paint, or a similar metallic substance applied to a surface for decoration.
"Over the centuries, much of the original gilt had worn away from the wooden molding."
British A fixed-interest loan security or bond issued by the United Kingdom government, traditionally considered a low-risk investment (short for gilt-edged security).
"Institutional investors shifted a larger portion of their portfolios into government gilts during the market downturn."
A young female domestic pig (Sus domesticus) that has not yet produced its first litter of piglets.
"The farmer selected several healthy gilts to expand the breeding herd this spring."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'gilt' (covered thinly with gold, or a UK government bond) with its homophone 'guilt' (culpability for an offense or feelings of remorse).
• Rhymes for gilt
Word Origin & Etymology
In its metallic and financial senses, the word derives from Middle English 'gilt', the archaic past participle of 'gild' (from Old English 'gyldan', meaning to cover with gold). The agricultural sense referring to a young female pig comes separately from Old Norse 'gyltr'.