n., gen. pl. gilja, dat. giljum, [Ghyll or Gill in North. E. and Scot., local names]:—a deep narrow glen with a stream at bottom, like the Gr. χαράδρα; brooks and tributary streams flowing through clefts in the fell side to the main river at the bottom of a vale are in Icel. called gil; very freq. in local names, Ísfirðinga-gil, Branda-gil, Hauka-gil, Hrafna-gil, Hellra-gil, Gilj-á, Þver-gil, vide Landn.; (a chasm without water or with stagnant water is not gil, but gjá; also gljúfr, a deep chasm forming the bed of a river), Valla L. 223, Hrafn. 7, Eg. 766, Ld. 218, Krók. 64, Fms. vii. 149, passim.

COMPDS: Gilsbakki, Gilsbekkingar, gilsbotn, gilsgjá, gilsþröm.