Bill

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bɪl/, /bɪɫ/
• US IPA: /bɪɫ/
• Rhymes: -ɪl

Old English bil, from West Germanic. Cognate with German Bille ("axe") and Dutch bijl ("axe").

Full definition of bill

Noun

1. Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
• unknown date, Thomas Babington MacaulayFrance had no infantry that dared to face the English bows and bills.
• 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons.In the British Museum there is an entry of a warrant, granted to Nicholas Spicer, authorising him to impress smiths for making two thousand Welch bills or glaives.
2. A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle, used in pruning, etc.; a billhook.
3. Somebody armed with a bill; a billman.
4. A pickaxe, or mattock.
5. (nautical) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.

Synonyms

• (weapon) polearm
• (cutting instrument) billhook, hand bill, hedge bill
• (somebody armed with a bill) billman

Derived terms

• brown-bill

Verb

1. (transitive) To dig, chop, etc., with a bill.

Old English bile, of unknown origin.

Noun

1. The beak of a bird, especially when small or flattish; sometimes also used with reference to a turtle, platypus, or other animal.
• 1595, The woosel cock so black of hue, With orange-tawny bill, The throstle with his note so true, The wren with little quill... — William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act III, Scene I, line 125.
2. A beak-like projection, especially a promontory.

Synonyms

• beak of a bird beak, neb, nib, pecker

Derived terms

• duckbill

Verb

1. (obsolete) To peck.
2. To stroke bill against bill, with reference to doves; to caress in fondness.
• 1599, As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.

Anglo-Norman bille, from Old French bulle, from Medieval Latin bulla ("seal", "sealed document"). Compare bull.

Noun

1. A written list or inventory. (Now obsolete except in specific senses or set phrases; bill of lading, bill of goods, etc.)
2. A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.)
3. A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.
• 1600, Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men. — William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II, Scene I, line 28.
• 2012-12-21, Simon Jenkins, We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys, David Cameron insists that his latest communications data bill is “vital to counter terrorism”. Yet terror is mayhem. It is no threat to freedom. That threat is from counter-terror, from ministers capitulating to securocrats.
4. (obsolete, legal) A declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law.
5. (US) A piece of paper money; a banknote.
• 1830, Anon, The Galaxy of Wit: Or, Laughing Philosopher, Being a Collection of Choice Anecdotes, Many of Which Originated in or about "The Literary Emporium" — He gave the change for a three dollar bill. Upon examination, the bill proved to be counterfeit.
6. A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; an invoice.
• 1607, My lord, here is my bill. — William Shakespeare, Timon of Athens, Act III, Scene IV, line 85.
7. A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods; a placard; a poster; a handbill.
• 1595, In the meantime I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants. — William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act I, Scene II, line 104.
• She put up the bill in her parlor window. — Dickens.
8. A writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated in the document. A bill of exchange. In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of hand, or a promissory note.
• 1600, Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a gentleman born, Master Parson; who writes himself Armigero, in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, Armigero. — William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act I, Scene I, line 8.

Synonyms

• (account of goods) account, invoice
• (written or printed advertisement posted or otherwise distributed) broadsheet, broadside, card,circular, flier, flyer, handbill, poster, posting, placard, notice, throwaway
• (draft of a law) measure
• (writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day) bank bill, banker's bill, bank note, banknote, Federal Reserve note, government note, greenback, note

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To advertise by a bill or public notice.
2. (transitive) To charge; to send a bill to.

Synonyms

• (to advertise by a bill) placard
• (to charge) charge

Noun

1. The bell, or boom, of the bittern.
• WordsworthThe bittern's hollow bill was heard.