gillie

Where does the word "gillie" come from? It comes from Scottish Gaelic gille, and was adopted directly into English (1590s).

Gillie’s story begins in Scottish Gaelic: gille meant “lad, servant.” 'lad, servant'; it survives in surnames like Gilchrist, 'servant of Christ', and Gillespie, 'servant of the bishop'. It reached English by 1590s as gillie. A Highland hunting or fishing attendant; Queen Victoria's confidant John Brown began as a gillie at Balmoral. Today, gillie means an attendant on a hunting or fishing trip in Scotland or Ireland.

1. Stage 1 · Scottish Gaelic · medieval gille "lad, servant", 'lad, servant'; it survives in surnames like Gilchrist, 'servant of Christ', and Gillespie, 'servant of the bishop'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1590s gillie "sporting attendant", a Highland hunting or fishing attendant; Queen Victoria's confidant John Brown began as a gillie at Balmoral.