Gild, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gilded or Gilt (p. pr. & vb. n. Gilding.]
Etymology: [AS. gyldan, from gold gold. sq. root234. See Gold.]
1. To overlay with a thin covering of gold; to cover with a golden color; to cause to look like gold. "Gilded chariots." Pope. No more the rising sun shall gild the morn. Pope.
2. To make attractive; to adorn; to brighten. Let oft good humor, mild and gay, Gild the calm evening of your day. Trumbull.
3. To give a fair but deceptive outward appearance to; to embellish; as, to gild a lie. Shak.
4. To make red with drinking. [Obs.] This grand liquior that hath gilded them. Shak.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for gild; he lists it under adorn.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.