guild

/ˈgild/

Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, guild; akin to Old English gield tribute, guild

noun

  1. an association of people with similar interests or pursuits; especially : a medieval association of merchants or craftsmen

  2. a group of organisms that use the same ecological resource in a similar way

noun

  1. an early 20th century English socialistic theory advocating state ownership of industry with control and management by guilds of workers