I. ˈbil noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bile, from Old English; akin to Old English bill sword
1. : the jaws of a bird together with their horny covering, the whole varying greatly in form according to the food and habits of the various kinds : beak , nib
2.
a. : any mouthpart similar to or likened to a bill (as the horny jaws of a turtle, the elongated snout of a marlin, or the sensitive skin-covered beak of a platypus)
b. : a thin flattened part of the shell margin of the broad end of an oyster
3. : a projection of land like a beak : promontory , headland
4. : the point of the end of an anchor fluke or of a yard — see anchor illustration
5. : the prong of the metal hook of a pompier ladder
6. : one of the blades of a pair of scissors
7. : the visor of a cap
[s]bill.jpg[/s] [
bill 1: 1 flamingo, 2 falcon, 3 pigeon, 4 thrush, 5 merganser, 6 toucan, 7 finch, 8 spoonbill, 9 pelican
]
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English bilen, from bile, n.
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : peck
2. : to touch and rub bill to bill
a pair of doves gently billing
3. : to show affection through fondling and kissing
lovers billing and cooing
transitive verb
: to catch or pick up with the bill
swift birds billing insects on the wing
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bil, from Old English bill; akin to Old High German bill pickax, Old Norse bīldr instrument for letting blood, Greek phitros log, Old Slavic biti to strike
1. : a weapon used up to the 17th century mainly by infantry and up to the 18th by civic guards that consisted of a long staff terminating in a hook-shaped blade usually with pikes at the back and top — compare halberd
2. : billhook
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English bille, from Medieval Latin billa, alteration of bulla document, seal, from Latin bulla bubble, boss, stud, amulet — more at poll (head)
1. : a written or printed statement: as
a. : a written document
b. : memorandum
c. : letter
2. obsolete : a formal and usually written petition : supplication
3. : a draft of a law presented to a legislature for enactment : a proposed or projected law
a new bill was set before Congress
— compare act I 3, statute I
4. : a declaration in writing stating some wrong a complainant has suffered from a defendant or stating a breach of law by some person — used chiefly in various phrases (as bill of complaint )
5.
a. : a written list : a paper carrying a statement of particulars
a bill of quantities containing specifications of building materials
b. obsolete : a list of drugs : medical prescription
c. : a list of men and their duties especially as part of a ship's crew : a chart or organization sheet listing functions or assignments
watch quarter and station bill
d. : a list of a complete correctly proportioned assortment of printer's type of one size and style ; also : the assortment itself : font
a bill of pica
6.
a. : an itemized account that states the separate costs of goods sold, services rendered, or work done : invoice
the bill accompanying a large consignment of furniture
b. : a statement in gross of a creditor's claim : statement of account : total amount indicated as due : total charge
last month we had a huge grocery bill
c. : a statement of charges for food or drink consumed (as in a restaurant) : check
ask the waiter to bring the bill
7. obsolete : label
8.
a. : a written or printed advertisement that is posted or otherwise distributed to announce an event (as an exhibition or an auction) of interest to the public : placard , poster , handbill ; especially : a written or printed announcement of a theatrical entertainment : playbill
bills about the new play were in nearly every store window
b. : a programmed presentation (as a motion picture, play, lecture, concert) : the entertainment or other event of interest presented on a given program
the newly built theater was offering a wonderful bill that evening
9.
a. : a piece of paper money
a 10-dollar bill
b. : an individual or commercial note
bills receivable
a discounted bill
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English billen, from bille, n.
1.
a. : to enter in a book of accounts : prepare a bill of (charges to customers or clients)
billing each month's purchases
b. : to submit a bill of charges to
the company bills its customers every other month
c. : to enter (as passengers or freight) in a waybill : consign to a destination : book
d. : to issue a bill of lading to or for
2.
a. : to advertise especially by posters or placards
the circus was billed well in advance of its arrival in town
b. : to present or arrange for the presentation of (an event or attraction of interest to the public, as a motion picture, lecture, or concert)
the theater is billing the play for three weeks
c. : to present or arrange for the presentation of (as an entertainer or group of entertainers) : bring before the public : offer on a program
an astute producer who billed the country's leading actress in the new play
they were billed as a brilliant dance team
especially : to allot a specific part (as a role in a play) to : cast
for three consecutive seasons he was billed in leading roles
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by alteration
Scotland : bull I 1
VII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of bell (IV)
: the cry of the bittern
the bittern's hollow bill was heard — William Wordsworth