guild

A group or association mainly of tradespeople made up of merchants, craftspeople, or artisans, particularly in the Middle Ages, established to oversee and protect their specific commercial interests and to provide mutual aid.

Noun

  1. A group or association mainly of tradespeople made up of merchants, craftspeople, or artisans, particularly in the Middle Ages, established to oversee and protect their specific commercial interests and to provide mutual aid.
    • The swinging of its censers, the silence of its members / Oh, the Guild of Mute Assassins - 2003, “Guild of Mute Assassins”, performed by Clutch:
  2. A corporation.
  3. A group of diverse species that share common characteristics or habits.
  4. An organized group of players who regularly play together in a multiplayer game.

Origin

From Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi (“payment, guild”). Related to geld, yield, yauld.

Forms

guilds gild

Synonyms

Hanse trade union union professional association

Related

guild hall guildhall guildsman guildswoman common house common hall

Derived

altar guild extraguild frithguild guildable guildic guildie guildless guildlike guildmaster guildmate guildmember guildmistress guildship guildwide intraguild