gilts

gilts — noun

1. a very thin layer of real gold or a shiny gold-colored material applied to an ob

1.nounC1
Definition

a very thin layer of real gold or a shiny gold-colored material applied to an object's surface, typically for decoration

Example

The antique mirror had a beautiful layer of gilt around its carved wooden frame.

collocation: layer of gilt

Xiu applied a thin coat of gilt to make the picture frame look more expensive.

Common collocations
  • layer of gilt
  • decorated with gilt
  • gilt on
  • coat of gilt
  • gilt wears away
Synonyms
  • gold leaf

    specifically refers to gold hammered into extremely thin sheets for gilding

  • gilding

    the process or craft of applying gilt, rather than the material itself

  • gold plate

    a thicker layer of gold applied by electroplating, more durable than gilt

Grammar Patterns

gilt + of + noun

gilt + on + noun

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to the material in general ('furniture with gilt'), but countable when referring to specific layers or applications ('several layers of gilt').

Common Mistakes

The ring is made of gilt.
The ring is made of gold.
Gilt refers only to a thin coating, not to solid gold.
He bought a gilt of gold.
He bought a layer of gilt for the frame.
Gilt is the coating itself, not something you buy as raw metal.

gilts — adjective

gilts — idiom

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Gilt' refers specifically to a thin decorative layer of gold or gold-like material on a surface, while 'gilding' is the process or craft of applying it (e.g., 'The gilding on the frame took two weeks'). 'Gold leaf' is a specific product: real gold hammered into extremely thin sheets used in gilding. 'Gold plate' involves a thicker layer applied by electroplating and is more durable than simple gilt. 'Golden' describes a gold-like color without implying any actual metal coating, so you would say 'golden hair' but not 'gilt hair.' For everyday use: use 'gilt' when referring to the coating material itself, 'golden' for color, and 'gilding' for the technique.

gilt ↗gilding ↗gold leafgold plategolden ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • layer of gilt
  • coat of gilt
  • decorated with gilt
  • gilt-edged securities

Prepositions

  • gilt on
  • gilt with
  • gilt by

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

From the past participle of 'gild,' which comes from Old English 'gyldan' (to cover with gold), ultimately from the Proto-Germanic root *gulþą meaning 'gold.' The financial sense 'gilts' emerged in the 1800s as a shortened form of 'gilt-edged securities' — a term describing bonds of such high quality that they were metaphorically 'edged with gold.'

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (1)