Brown-bill

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈbraÊŠnbɪl/

Origin

From brown + bill ‘sword’.

Full definition of brown-bill

Noun

1. (historical) A type of halberd used by mediaeval foot-soldiers.
• 1819: The tramp of horses was now heard, and the Lady Rowena appeared, surrounded by several riders, and a much stronger party of footmen, who joyfully shook their pikes and clashed their brown-bills for joy of her freedom. — Walter Scott, Ivanhoe