n.
- a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants.
- an association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal.
- Ecology a group of species with similar roles within a community.
Derivative
- guildsman n.
(pl. guildsmen)
.
Etymology
OE: prob. from Mid. Low Ger. and MDu. gilde, of Gmc origin; rel. to yield.