n.
Variant: also gild
Pronunciation: ' gild
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild ― more at GELD
Date: 14th century
1 : an association of people with similar interests or pursuits especially : a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen
2 : a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way <a feeding guild >
– guild · ship \ ' gil(d)- ˌ ship \ noun