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To answer some points in a single comment:

I believe the usage "C Intermediate Language" predates the usage "Common Intermediate Language." Regardless, I think it is a simpler, cleaner "thing" than LLVM, and serves as an interesting "compare and contrast" point when talking about compilers, intermediate languages, and program optimisation.

I see CIL and LLVM as having different purposes. I agree that if one is writing a compiler and looking for an intermediate language and surrounding tools, then probably the LLVM is a better vehicle than CIL, but if you're trying to simplify a huge C project, CIL is better than LLVM.

I've seen jey's profile and acknowledge that s/he knows more about this than I, but I still see CIL as a useful thing to know about, and possibly understand.

CIL is already the name of the standard for the IL used by .NET and Mono. (Common Intermediate Language)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Intermediate_Language

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cil

(Also know as MSIL)

Nope, it's just an overloaded name. They're both intermediate representations for programs, but entirely different in their approach.

LLVM > CIL.

You care to expand on that, please? For hackers unfamiliar with both subjects simultaneously, perhaps?

CIL (C Intermediate Language)