Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GILD, v.1 Also †guild. Sc. usages: †1. intr. Of fish: to assume a yellow phosphorescent colour due to incipient decay. Cf. Gilt, v., 2.; 2. ppl.adj. in n.comb. †gilded lady, a gilt gingerbread made in the shape of a woman.1. Sc. 1733 P. Lindsay Interest Scot. 210:
The Deep-water Herrings, and those taken in Loch-fine, are too fat and oyly; they soon guild and become rancid.Sc. 1788 Aberdeen Mag. 337:
Doing this [pickling] is of more utility than is generally imagined, particularly for such [salmon] as have a chance of being kept any time on hand, or sent to a warm climate; as it prevents their gilding.2. Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1898) iii.:
I had a gilded lady thrust into my little nieve . . . in less than no time she had vanished, . . . no trace of her . . . except long treacly daubs . . . from ear to ear.
