guild

 
Pronunciation: /gɪld/
(also gild)

noun

  • a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power.
  • an association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal.
  • Ecology a group of species that have similar requirements and play a similar role within a community.

Derivatives

guildsman

noun (plural guildsmen)

Origin:

late Old English: probably from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch gilde, of Germanic origin; related to yield