covered with gold or gilt; of the colour of gold [Middle English, past part. of gilden to gild, from Old English gyldan]
gold leaf or gold paint laid on a surfacesuperficial brilliance; surface attraction(in pl) gilt-edged securitiestake the gilt off the gingerbread to make something less attractive by taking away part of it [gingerbread was traditionally sold at fairs decorated with ‘Dutch gold’, an alloy of copper and bronze]