gilt

Definition
Long-term fixed income debt security (bond) issued by the UK government and traded on the London stock exchange (or LSE, now called the International stock exchange of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland or ISE). Its name comes from the past practice of gilding the edges of a security's pages. See also treasuries.

gilt edged security

Definition
High-grade bond issued by a national (federal) government or an established and stable firm with a long record of consistent earnings, and ability to pay its obligations on time and in full. Such securities used to have gilded edges. See also treasuries.