Gill etymology

Etymology:

  • Old English "gielle"
  • Middle English "gille"
  • Proto-Germanic "*gil"

Meaning:

  • A breathing organ of a fish, consisting of a series of feathery filaments supported by bony or cartilaginous arches.
  • In some aquatic invertebrates, such as crabs and lobsters, a similar respiratory structure.

Origin:

The word "gill" is thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic root "*gil," which likely referred to a gap or opening. This may have originally described the gill slits, the openings on the body where water enters and exits the gills.

Over time, the term "gill" came to be used for the entire respiratory structure, which is composed of a series of feathery filaments that are used to absorb oxygen from water. These filaments are supported by bony or cartilaginous arches, which help to keep them in place and protected.

Gills are an essential part of the respiratory system of fish and other aquatic animals. They allow these animals to take in oxygen from water and expel carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of cellular respiration.

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