Sill (?), n. [OE. sille, sylle, AS. syl, syll; akin to G. schwelle, OHG. swelli, Icel. syll, svill, Sw. syll, Dan. syld, Goth. gasuljan to lay a foundation, to found.]
The basis or foundation of a thing; especially, a horizontal piece, as a timber, which forms the lower member of a frame, or supports a structure; as, the sills of a house, of a bridge, of a loom, and the like.
Hence: (a)
The timber or stone at the foot of a door; the threshold.
(b)
The timber or stone on which a window frame stands; or, the lowest piece in a window frame.
(c)
The floor of a gallery or passage in a mine.
(d)
A piece of timber across the bottom of a canal lock for the gates to shut against.
Sill course Arch., a horizontal course of stone, terra cotta, or the like, built into a wall at the level of one or more window sills, these sills often forming part of it.
© Webster 1913.
Sill, n. [Cf. Thill.]
The shaft or thill of a carriage.
[Prov. Eng.]
© Webster 1913.
Sill, n. [Cf. 4th Sile.]
A young herring.
[Eng.]
© Webster 1913.