bill

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Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Synonyms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.2.1.3 Derived terms 1.2.2 Verb 1.2.2.1 Translations 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Noun 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.3.1.2 Derived terms 1.3.1.3 Translations 1.3.2 Verb 1.3.2.1 Translations 1.4 Etymology 3 1.4.1 Noun 1.4.1.1 Synonyms 1.4.1.2 Translations 1.4.1.3 Derived terms 1.4.2 Verb 1.4.2.1 Synonyms 1.4.2.2 Translations

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /bɪl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɪl

[edit] Etymology 1

Old English bil, from West Germanic. Cognate with German Bille (“‘axe’”).

[edit] Noun

bill (plural bills)

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. A common form of bill consisted of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, having a short pike at the back and another at the top, and attached to the end of a long staff.

   • France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows and bills. — Thomas Babington Macaulay.

   • 1786: 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. — Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons.
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 bill-man.
4. (nautical) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.

[edit] Synonyms

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

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

• brown-bill

[edit] Verb

to bill (third-person singular simple present bills, present participle billing, simple past and past participle billed)

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

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

Old English bile, of unknown origin.

[edit] Noun

bill (plural bills)

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.

[edit] Synonyms

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

[edit] Derived terms

• duckbill

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to bill (third-person singular simple present bills, present participle billing, simple past and past participle billed)

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.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 3

Anglo-Norman bille, from Old French bulle, from Mediaeval Latin bulla (“‘seal", "sealed document’”). Compare bull.

[edit] Noun

bill (plural bills)

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.
4. (obsolete, law) 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] Translations

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Verb

to bill (third-person singular simple present bills, present participle billing, simple past and past participle billed)

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

[edit] Synonyms

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

[edit] Translations