The word "gilded" refers to something that is covered with a thin layer of gold or appears to be wealthy or luxurious on the surface, but may not possess true value or substance beneath. It can describe objects, environments, or even people that seem brilliant and valuable at first glance, but might hide a less appealing reality underneath.
The word "gilded" comes from the Old English "gyldan," meaning "to cover with gold". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic "*gulþō," and is related to the Modern English word "gold." The past participle form "gilded" indicates the act of being coated in gold or having a gold-like appearance.