n. & v.
n. 1 the beak of a bird, esp. when it is slender, flattened, or weak, or belongs to a web-footed bird or a bird of the pigeon family. 2 the muzzle of a platypus. 3 a narrow promontory. 4 the point of an anchor-fluke.
v.intr. (of doves etc.) stroke a bill with a bill. bill and coo exchange caresses. billed adj. (usu. in comb.).
[ OE bile, of unkn. orig. ]