gimlet
UK[ˈɡɪmlɪt]US[ˈɡɪmlɪt]
n
A small tool with a screw point for boring holes.
n
A cocktail made with gin or vodka, lime juice, and sometimes soda water.
Etymology
The word 'gimlet' first appears in Middle English as 'gimlet' or 'gymbelet', likely borrowed from Old French 'guimbelet', itself from a diminutive form of a Germanic word related to the Middle Dutch 'wimmel', meaning 'drill' or 'auger'. This Germanic root is thought to be connected to the verb 'to wimble', meaning to bore or turn. The tool's name is thus a direct reference to its function. The cocktail name, first recorded in the early 20th century, is a metaphorical extension, humorously suggesting the drink's sharp, piercing effect on the senses, much like the tool's action.
Analysis
The word 'gimlet' is a simplex word of uncertain origin, likely entering English as a complete unit. It is not productively formed from separable, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
He used a gimlet to start the hole for the screw.
The classic gimlet is made with gin, lime cordial, and ice.
Her gaze was as sharp and penetrating as a gimlet.