Hypertext Webster Gateway: "guild"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Guild \Guild\, n. [OE. gilds, AS. gild, gield, geld, tribute, a
society or company where payment was made for its charge and
support, fr. AS. gildan, gieldan, to pay. See {Yield}, v. t.]
1. An association of men belonging to the same class, or
engaged in kindred pursuits, formed for mutual aid and
protection; a business fraternity or corporation; as, the
Stationers' Guild; the Ironmongers' Guild. They were
originally licensed by the government, and endowed with
special privileges and authority.
2. A guildhall. [Obs.] --Spenser.
3. A religious association or society, organized for
charitable purposes or for assistance in parish work.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
guild
n : a formal association of people with similar interests; "he
joined a golf club"; "they formed a small lunch society";
"men from the fraternal order will staff the soup kitchen
today" [syn: {club}, {society}, {gild}, {lodge}, {order}]
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