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bilbo

1 American  
[bil-boh] / ˈbɪl boʊ /

noun

plural

bilboes

  1. a long iron bar or bolt with sliding shackles and a lock, formerly attached to the ankles of prisoners.

bilbo 2 American  
[bil-boh] / ˈbɪl boʊ /

noun

Archaic.

plural

bilboes

  1. a finely tempered sword.

Bilbo 3 American  
[bil-boh] / ˈbɪl boʊ /

noun

  1. Theodore Gilmore 1877–1947, U.S. Southern populist politician: senator 1935–47.

bilbo British  
/ ˈbɪlbəʊ /

noun

  1. (formerly) a sword with a marked temper and elasticity

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bilbo1

First recorded in 1550–60; earlier bilbow < ?

Origin of bilbo2

1585–95; short for Bilboa blade sword made in Bilboa (variant of Bilbao )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That is true enough," said Bothwell, as he slowly rose; "put up your bilbo, Tom.

From Old Mortality, Volume 1. by Scott, Walter, Sir

Further arguments are needless; draw off; I shall speak to you now by the way of bilbo.

From The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 04 by Scott, Walter, Sir

I wear a bilbo by my side, as you can see.

From Micah Clarke His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During the Hard Winter of 1734 by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir

I have brought you a couple of dictionaries; let us see if your highness can find out the Latin for bilbo.

From The Lady of Lyons by Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron

Sir Iohn, and Maister mine, I combat craue Of this same laten bilbo.

From The Merry Wives of Windsor The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by Glover, John, librarian of Trinity College, Cambridge

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.