Daily AncestorGill
A gill (pronounced jill) is a small liquid measure of 4 fluid ounces, a quarter of a pint, long used for serving spirits.
Four gills make a pint and 32 make a gallon. In old accounts a gill is most often a serving of spirits, which is the use that kept the word alive longest.
Do not confuse it with the gill of a fish; the measure is said with a soft g. In some English regions a gill could mean a half pint instead, so a gill in a British record may be larger.
As seen in a recordTavern account book, 1780s
To Ezra Cobb, 2 gills rum ... 0. 0. 6
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Gill." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/money-measures/gill. Last checked 2026-10-03.