billy

¹

[ bil-ee ]

noun

, plural bil·lies.

1. Also called billy club. a police officer's club or baton.
2. a heavy wooden stick used as a weapon; cudgel.
3. Scot. Dialect. comrade.
4. Also called bil·ly·can [bil, -ee-kan]. Australian. any container in which water may be carried and boiled over a campfire, ranging from a makeshift tin can to a special earthenware kettle; any pot or kettle in which tea is boiled over a campfire.
5. Textiles. (in Great Britain) a roving machine.

Billy

²

[ bil-ee ]

noun

1. a first name, often a form of William.

billy

¹

/ ˈbɪlɪˌkæn; ˈbɪlɪ /

noun

1. a metal can or pot for boiling water, etc, over a campfire
2. ( as modifier )

   billy-tea

3. informal.
   to make tea

billy

²

/ ˈbɪlɪ /

noun

1. a wooden club esp a police officer's truncheon

Word History and Origins

Origin of billy¹

Perhaps all independently derived generic uses of Billy (male name); for Australian sense compare Scots dialect billy-pot cooking pot

Word History and Origins

Origin of billy¹

C19: from Scot billypot cooking vessel

Origin of billy²

C19: special use of the name Billy , pet form of William

Example Sentences

Once considered a coveted assignment for comedians like Bob Hope and Billy Crystal, the high-stakes role of Oscars host has grown increasingly difficult to fill, as the spotlight on the show has intensified while ratings have steadily dwindled from their peak of more than 55 million viewers in 1998.

From Los Angeles Times

Acosta shot 28-year-old Arthur “Billy” Boucher, a family friend who was asleep on a sofa in the living room.

From Los Angeles Times

Eminem and Rihanna are among the perennial will-they/won't-they headliners, while Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder are supposedly in the running for the legend slot.

From BBC

In a statement, Mr McGreanery’s nephew Billy, who was 13 when his uncle was killed, said the family would continue to pursue justice.

From BBC

Holland, also 28, played the lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical in the West End as a child, and has since appeared in Uncharted, Cherry and The Devil All The Time.

From BBC

Related Words

• cudgel
• mace
• nightstick
• rod
• truncheon
• wand