gillie

or gil·ly

[ gil-ee ]

noun

1. Scot.
   1. a hunting or fishing guide.
   2. a male attendant or personal servant to a Highland chieftain.
2. ghillie.

gillie

/ ˈɡɪlɪ /

noun

1. an attendant or guide for hunting or fishing
2. (formerly) a Highland chieftain's male attendant or personal servant

Word History and Origins

Origin of gillie¹

First recorded in 1590–1600, gillie is from the Scots Gaelic word gille lad, servant

Word History and Origins

Origin of gillie¹

C17: from Scottish Gaelic gille boy, servant

Example Sentences

First she lost her adored husband, Albert, and never got over it, and then John Brown, her beloved Scots gillie, died on her.

From New York Times

"I am warning the city council that I am going to show up with my gillie suit, to remove these tyrants from office, in 2017," the post stated, according to police.

From Los Angeles Times

We became purchasers of his work, and got him to read it to us—to the great amusement of his fellow gillies as well as ourselves.

From The New Yorker

However, SNH also found that the local fishermen and gillies, consulted in the study, had no problem with the presence of beavers, and even claimed the presence of the mammals enriched the fishing experience.

From BBC

Instantly, a gillie incongruously in a flower-seller's dress, she was on her feet and walking a little ahead.

From Project Gutenberg