Gillie
Gillie or ghillie is a Gaelic term for a man or a boy who acts as an attendant on a fishing, fly fishing, hunting, or deer stalking expedition, primarily in the Highlands or on a river such as the River Spey. In origin it referred especially to someone who attended on his employer or guests.
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Etymology
The origin of this word dates from the late 16th century, from the Scottish Gaelic gille, "lad, servant", cognate with the Irish giolla.
Historically, the term was used for a Highland chief's attendant.
A ghillie-weetfit, a term now obsolete (a translation of "gille-caisfliuch", from the Gaelic cos foot/leg and fliuch wet), was the ghillie whose duty it was to carry his master over streams. It became a term of contempt among the Lowlanders for the "tail" (as his attendants were called) of a Highland chief.
See also
- Ghillie Dhu, a Scottish mythological figure whose name means Dark Servant
- Ghillie suit
- Harald Gille
- John Brown
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Gillie". Encyclopædia Britannica. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 22–23.