guild
/gɪld/(亦作gild)
noun
1- a medieval association of craftsmen or merchants, often having considerable power（中世纪工匠或商人的）基尔特, 行会, 同业公会。
1.1
- an association of people for mutual aid or the pursuit of a common goal（互助性或追求共同目标的）协会, 联合会。
1.2
- Ecology a group of species that have similar requirements and play a similar role within a community【生态】共位群, 功能群。
词源
late Old English: probably from Middle Low German and Middle Dutch gilde, of Germanic origin; related to YIELD.