I. ˈbil noun
Etymology: Middle English bile, from Old English; akin to Old English bill
Date: before 12th century
1. : the jaws of a bird together with their horny covering
2. : a mouthpart (as the beak of a turtle) that resembles a bird's bill
3. : the point of an anchor fluke — see anchor illustration
4. : the visor of a cap or hood
[
bill 1: 1 spoonbill, 2 duck, 3 parrot, 4 flamingo, 5 eagle, 6 finch, 7 pelican, 8 hummingbird, 9 ibis
]
II. intransitive verb
Date: 1584
1. : to touch and rub bill to bill
2. : to caress affectionately
bill ing and cooing
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English bil, from Old English bill sword; akin to Old High German bill pickax
Date: 14th century
1. : a weapon in use up to the 18th century that consists of a long staff ending in a hook-shaped blade
2. : billhook
IV. noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French bille, from Medieval Latin billa, perhaps alteration of bulla, papal seal, bull — more at bull
Date: 14th century
1. : an itemized list or a statement of particulars (as a list of materials or of members of a ship's crew)
2. : a written document or note
3. obsolete : a formal petition
4.
a. : an itemized account of the separate cost of goods sold, services performed, or work done : invoice
b. : an amount expended or owed
c. : a statement of charges for food or drink : check
5.
a. : a written or printed advertisement posted or otherwise distributed to announce an event of interest to the public ; especially : an announcement of a theatrical entertainment
b. : a programmed presentation (as a motion picture, play, or concert)
6. : a draft of a law presented to a legislature for enactment ; also : the law itself
the GI bill
7. : a declaration in writing stating a wrong a complainant has suffered from a defendant or stating a breach of law by some person
a bill of complaint
8.
a. : a piece of paper money
b. : an individual or commercial note
bill s receivable
c. slang : one hundred dollars
•
- fill the bill
V. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to enter in an accounting system : prepare a bill of (charges)
b. : to submit a bill of charges to
c. : to enter (as freight) in a waybill
d. : to issue a bill of lading to or for
2. : to announce (as a performance) especially by posters or placards
3. : advertise , promote
the book is bill ed as a “report” — P. G. Altbach
• bill·able adjective