gin

1
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /

noun

an alcoholic liquor obtained by distilling grain mash with juniper berries.
an alcoholic liquor similar to this, made by redistilling spirits with flavoring agents, especially juniper berries, orange peel, angelica root, etc.

Origin of gin

1
First recorded in 1705–15; shortened from geneva

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH gin

djin djinn gin jinn

Definition for gin (2 of 6)

gin 2
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /

noun

a trap or snare for game.
any of various machines employing simple tackle or windlass mechanisms for hoisting.
a stationary prime mover having a drive shaft rotated by horizontal beams pulled by horses walking in a circle.

verb (used with object), ginned, gin·ning.

to clear (cotton) of seeds with a gin.
to snare (game).

Origin of gin

2
1150–1200; Middle English gyn, aphetic variant of Old French engin engine

OTHER WORDS FROM gin

gin·ner, noun

Definition for gin (3 of 6)

gin 3
[ gin ]
/ gɪn /

verb (used with or without object), gan, gun, gin·ning. Archaic.

to begin.

Origin of gin

3
1150–1200; Middle English ginnen, Old English ginnan, aphetic variant of onginnan, beginnen to begin

Definition for gin (4 of 6)

gin 4
[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /
Cards.

noun

Also called gin rummy. a variety of rummy for two players, in which a player with 10 or fewer points in unmatched cards can end the game by laying down the hand.
the winning of such a game by laying down a full set of matched cards, earning the winner a bonus of 20 or 25 points.

verb (used without object), ginned, gin·ning.

to win a game in gin by laying down a hand in which all 10 cards are included in sets.

Origin of gin

4
First recorded in 1955–60; perhaps special use of gin1

Definition for gin (5 of 6)

gin 5
[ gin ]
/ gɪn /

conjunction Chiefly Scot. and Southern Appalachian.

if; whether.

Origin of gin

5
1665–75; variously explained as sense development of gien given (see gie1, -en3); as contraction of gif if + an2 (cf. iffen); or as aphetic form of again

Definition for gin (6 of 6)

gin 6

or jin

[ jin ]
/ dʒɪn /

noun Australian Informal.

a female Aborigine.
an Aboriginal wife.

Origin of gin

6
First recorded in 1820–30, gin is from the Dharuk word di-yin

Example sentences from the Web for gin

British Dictionary definitions for gin (1 of 5)

gin 1
/ (dʒɪn) /

noun

an alcoholic drink obtained by distillation and rectification of the grain of malted barley, rye, or maize, flavoured with juniper berries
any of various grain spirits flavoured with other fruit or aromatic essences sloe gin
an alcoholic drink made from any rectified spirit

Word Origin for gin

C18: shortened from Dutch genever juniper, via Old French from Latin jūniperus juniper

British Dictionary definitions for gin (2 of 5)

gin 2
/ (dʒɪn) /

noun

a primitive engine in which a vertical shaft is turned by horses driving a horizontal beam or yoke in a circle
Also called: cotton gin a machine of this type used for separating seeds from raw cotton
a trap for catching small mammals, consisting of a noose of thin strong wire
a hand-operated hoist that consists of a drum winder turned by a crank

verb gins, ginning or ginned (tr)

to free (cotton) of seeds with a gin
to trap or snare (game) with a gin

Derived forms of gin

ginner, noun

Word Origin for gin

C13 gyn, shortened from engine

British Dictionary definitions for gin (3 of 5)

gin 3
/ (ɡɪn) /

verb gins, ginning, gan or gun

an archaic word for begin

British Dictionary definitions for gin (4 of 5)

gin 4
/ (ɡɪn) /

conjunction

Scot if

Word Origin for gin

perhaps related to gif, an earlier form of if

British Dictionary definitions for gin (5 of 5)

gin 5
/ (dʒɪn) /

noun

Australian offensive, slang an Aboriginal woman

Word Origin for gin

C19: from a native Australian language