gimlet

(gimlit)

noun

  1. a small boring tool with a handle at right angles to a shaft having at the other end a spiral, pointed cutting edge
  2. a cocktail made of sweetened lime juice, gin or vodka, and sometimes soda

Origin: ME < OFr guimbelet, altered (with dim. suffix -et) < wimbelquin < MDu wimmelkijn < wimmel, wimble + dim. suffix -kijn, -kin

transitive verb

to make a hole in with or as with a gimlet

See gimlet in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A small hand tool having a spiraled shank, a screw tip, and a cross handle and used for boring holes.
  2. A cocktail made with vodka or gin, sweetened lime juice, and sometimes effervescent water and garnished with a slice of lime.
transitive verb gim·let·ed, gim·let·ing, gim·lets
To penetrate with or as if with a gimlet.
adjective
Having a penetrating or piercing quality: gimlet eyes.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Anglo-Norman guimbelet

Origin: , perhaps from Middle Dutch wimmelkijn

Origin: , diminutive of wimmel, auger

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