1366 in G. T. Clark Cartæ Glamorgan (1893) IV. 238 (MED) Capiendum in dicta aqua salmones, gillynges, et suwynges, et omnes alios pisces.

1532 in G. T. Clarke Cartæ Glamorgan (1893) IV. 454 Yeldyng and paynge yerely to the sayd abbotte..x. samones v. gyllynges and xliiij^te suwynges..or elles..for euery cuple sewinges 1. d.

a1641 J. Smyth Berkeley MSS (1885) III. 319 The salmon growes by theis degrees and ages: vz. 1 a pinke; 2 a botcher; 3 a salmon trout; 4 a gillinge; 5 a salmon.

1828 Edinb. New Philos. Jrnl. 4 259 Experiments..proving not only the growth of the smolt or samlet into the grilse or botcher, but also that of the grilse into the gilling.

1870 Sporting Gaz. 15 Oct. 761/3 The bulk of the fish captured were remarkably fine, consisting principally of ‘gillings’, and full grown salmon.

1880 F. Buckland in 19th Ann. Rep. Inspectors Salmon Fisheries 1879 58 Gilling, a salmon on his second return from the sea is sometimes called a gilling in the Severn District.

1905 Country Life 13 May 670/1 Gillings now run all through the spring and during August, September, and October.

1948 Citizen (Gloucester) 25 May 5/6 There were more salmon in the river in 1947 than there have been for many years, and most of them survived to reach the spawning beds. The total catch of salmon, gillings, and botchers in 1947 was 3,126.

Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 194 Gyllynge of fysche, exenteracio.

1615 E. Sharpe Britaines Busse sig. B3 Toales and Implements vsed in dringe and packing of Herring. Gipping or Gilling kniues.

1765 Ann. Reg. 1764 253/1 The invention of the gilling and pickling of herrings, at the close of this century, as still in use, has proved a great advantage to the commerce of Europe.

1892 A. T. Fisher Rod & River xvi. 318 If a fish is weighed before being..gilled and afterwards, the difference will be remarkable. A pound in weight is generally allowed after gilling.

1945 L. King Port of Drifting Men xi. 82 He has done a swell job keeping the peace among a people who often insist on settling their differences with gutting and gilling knives.

2005 D. Prévost & P. Van den Bossche in P. F. J. Macrory et al. World Trade Organization I. 324 The four alternative measures examined (requiring retail-ready filleting, evisceration, beheading and gilling of salmon before importation).

1824 Adams Centinel (Gettysburg, Pa.) 14 Apr. Resolution relative to preventing the fishing with gilling nets, in the river Susquehanna, within the limits of the state of Maryland.

1883 Great Internat. Fisheries Exhib. Catal. 36 Netting Threads..Gilling Threads..Flax Threads.

1897 Preserv. Fisheries Waters Contiguous to U.S. & Canada 106 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (54th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 315) XLVIII Every precaution is taken against escape by reducing the mesh to the smallest dimension that can be conveniently handled, this being done chiefly to prevent the gilling of the smaller sizes of fish.

1943 Country Life 21 May 923/1 A gilling-net was placed across the only outlet.

1996 8th Amend. Summer Flounder Fishery Managem. Plan (Mid-Atlantic Fishery Managem. Council) App. 2 3 The current mesh in the parlor (where escapement occurs) is 2.75″ (to prevent gilling of mackerel and to retain Loligo squid).

?1775 Sunday Ramble iv. 40 (heading) Custom of gilling at taverns... A custom that prevails at most taverns in town, and procures no small consumption of their inferior wines.

1795 J. Aikin Descr. Country round Manch. 183 The bad custom of gilling, or drinking white wine as a whet before dinner.

1856 J. Strang Glasgow & its Clubs 123 Among the shopkeepers and manufacturers, a meridian glass was an almost universal habit, while forenoon gilling prevailed through the whole range of the different craftsmen.

1847 Bombay Times 16 June 475/2 The hackle-teeth of gilling machines.

1874 Iron 29 Aug. 280/3 The shorter fibre may be..treated by carding and gilling before final combing.

1917 J. Fales Dressmaking ii. ii. 113 The first machines..attenuate and even the slivers which come from the gilling process by uniting and drawing out from two to ten or twelve of them.

c1943 Everyday Things & their Story 188/1 The first two operations are those of gilling, where the sliver is drawn finer and through rows of pins that straighten as well as open out the wool [etc.].

1998 Textile Month June 21/1 Wool is converted into top by traditional processing but it is from here that there is a switch, as gilling is no longer involved.