Gelt

//ɡɛlt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A lunatic. rare

    "She […] like a ghastly Gelt whose wits are reaved, / Ran forth in hast with hideous outcry […]"

  2. 2
    Gilding; gilt. obsolete
  3. 3
    A gelding.

    "spay'd Gelts"

  4. 4
    Money. uncountable, usually

    "That nothynge had / There of theyr awne / Neyther gelt nor pawne."

  5. 5
    informal terms for money wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
  1. 6
    Tribute; tax. uncountable, usually

    "All these the king granted unto them […] free from all gelts [guilds] and payments, in a most full and ample manner."

  2. 7
    Money, especially that given as a gift on Hanukkah or used in games of dreidel. Judaism, uncountable, usually
  3. 8
    Chocolate candy in the shape of coins, usually wrapped in metallic foil, usually eaten on Hanukkah and often used for games of dreidel. Judaism, uncountable, usually
Verb
  1. 1
    simple past and past participle of geld form-of, participle, past

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Irish geilt.

Etymology 2

Variation of gilt.

Etymology 3

See geld.

Etymology 4

See geld.

Etymology 5

In the basic sense of "money", attested since the early 16th century, initially from (an Early New High German continuation of) Middle High German gelt (modern German Geld), from Old High German gelt (“payment, money”), or in some cases from (an Early Modern Dutch continuation of) Middle Dutch gelt. Later, and in the Jewish-related senses, from Yiddish געלט (gelt). The German, Dutch and Yiddish words are all from Proto-Germanic *geldą (“reward, gift, money”). Doublet of native words geld and yield.

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