guild

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guild, gild2 confraternity for mutual aid. XIV. The present form is prob. — MLG., MDu. gilde (Du. gild) :- *ʒelðjōn, rel. to OE. ġi(e)ld payment, offering, sacrifice, idol, (also) guild, OS. geld payment, sacrifice, reward, OHG. gelt payment, tribute (Du., G. geld money), ON. gjald payment. Goth. gild tribute :- Gmc. *ʒelðam. The base *ʒelð- is prob. to be taken in the sense ‘pay, offer’ (cf. YIELD), so that the sb. would primarily mean an association of persons contributing to a common object.

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