noun
gilt
A government bond, especially one issued by the British government.
The fund buys a gilt issued by the British government.
Etymology
Gilt shortens gilt-edged securities. The gilded edges of prestigious financial documents supplied an image of quality, which became associated with highly regarded government debt.
More examples
- This gilt pays interest twice a year.
- She holds several gilts that mature in ten years.
- Gilt prices often fall when interest rates rise.
Forms
gilt · gilts