Gilding
/ˈɡɪl.dɪŋ/noun
The process or art of applying a thin layer of gold or a gold-colored coating.
Did you know?The word comes from the same ancient root as English gold, so even the verb for “covering something in gold” carries the aura of wealth, divinity, and transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰelh₃-
“to shine; to gleam; to be yellow or green”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*gulþą
“gold”
Old English
English
gyldan
“to gild, cover with gold”
Middle English
English
gilden
“to cover with a thin layer of gold”
Modern English
English
gilding
“the act or process of applying gold or a gold-colored coating”