† ˈgillot Obs.
Also 4–6 gillet, 6 gillat, gylat.
[prob. a dim. of the female name Gill (cf. gill n.4); ‘Gillet, a woman's name’ (Phillips 1658, who connects it with Giles).]
1. A loose or wanton woman (cf. jillet).
| 1557 Tottel's Misc. (Arb.) 211 What though a gyllot sent that note, By cocke and pye I meant it not. 1561 Schole-ho. Wom. 559 in Hazl. E.P.P. IV. 126 The fairer woman the more gillot. 1579–80 North Plutarch (1676) 757 In honest mens houses..he would haue..these tumbling gillots lodged. |
2. Sc. A mare.
| c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Justina 112 Þarfor be his nygramancy He wald wirk mony ferly, As to gere a womane apere As scho ane wgly gillet were [L. matronas in jumenta convertere videbatur]. c 1450 Henryson Mor. Fab. 898 in Anglia IX. 369 The jolie gillet and the gentill steid, The asse, the mule, the hors of euerie kynd. 1494 Acta Dom. Conc. (1839) 321 Gillot w{supt} sadill and Ryding gere price v crovnis. 1508 Dunbar Tua mariit wemen 114 He feppillis like a farcy aver, that flyrit on a gillot [Maitland MS. gylat]. |