'gild' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'gyldan', where 'gyld' meant 'gold' or 'golden'.

'gild' changed from Old English 'gyldan' to Middle English 'gilden', and eventually became the modern English word 'gild'.

Initially, it meant 'to cover with gold'; over time it retained that literal meaning but also developed the figurative meaning 'to make superficially attractive' (to embellish or disguise defects).