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Definition of gimlet

gimlet

/ˈɡɪm.lɪt/
gim · let
Plural:gimlets
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gimlet Lexical Profile

gimlet Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A cocktail traditionally made of gin and lime juice, often sweetened and sometimes made with vodka instead of gin.

Example

"She ordered a classic gin gimlet, enjoying the sharp citrus flavor that balanced the strong spirit."

2

A small hand tool with a cross handle and a screw tip, used for boring small holes in wood.

Example

"The carpenter used a gimlet to carefully bore a pilot hole before driving the screw into the delicate antique frame."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gimlet

• Nearby Words

gillenia
gilt
gimbal
gimlet
gimme
gimmick
gimmickry

Word Origin & Etymology

Late Middle English: from Old French 'guimbelet', of Germanic origin; related to 'wimble' (an auger). The cocktail was purportedly named after Sir Thomas Gimlette, a British naval doctor who introduced lime juice to sailors' gin to prevent scurvy.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gimlet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gimlet
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