gelt

English

Etymology 1

From Yiddish געלט (gelt) (disputed, see discussion), from Middle High German gelt, from Old High German gelt (“payment, money”), from Proto-Germanic *geldan (“reward, gift, money”), from Proto-Indo-European *gheldh- (“to pay”). Cognate with German Geld (“money”), Dutch geld (“money”), Danish gjæld (“debt”), Swedish gäld (“debt”). More at geld.

Noun

gelt (plural gelts)

1. (slang) Money.
   • 1948, William Burroughs, letter, 5 Jun 1948:

     Have bought some farm land in Rio Grande Valley which should bring in a sizeable bundle of gelts come cotton picking time.

2. Candy eaten on Hanukkah in the shape of coins, wrapped in metallic foil.

Etymology 2

Variation of geld (“money”).

Noun

gelt (usually uncountable; plural gelts)

1. Alternative form of geld.

Etymology 3

Variation of gilt.

Noun

gelt (plural gelts)

1. (obsolete) Gilding; gilt.

Etymology 4

From Middle English, from gelden (“to geld, castrate”). More at geld.

Verb

gelt

1. Simple past and past participle of geld

Noun

gelt (plural gelts)

1. A gelding.