Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - guild

 also gild  noun  Etymology: Middle English gilde, from Old Norse gildi payment, ~; akin to Old English gield tribute, ~ — more at geld  Date: 14th century  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 a feeding ~  • ~ship noun