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Bill of exceptions . See under Exception. — Bill of exchange (Com.), a written order or request
from one person or house to another, desiring the latter to pay to some person designated a certain
sum of money therein generally is, and, to be negotiable, must be, made payable to order or to bearer.
So also the order generally expresses a specified time of payment, and that it is drawn for value. The
person who draws the bill is called the drawer, the person on whom it is drawn is, before acceptance,
called the drawee, — after acceptance, the acceptor; the person to whom the money is directed to
be paid is called the payee. The person making the order may himself be the payee. The bill itself is
frequently called a draft. See Exchange. Chitty. — Bill of fare, a written or printed enumeration of
the dishes served at a public table, or of the dishes (with prices annexed) which may be ordered at a
restaurant, etc. — Bill of health, a certificate from the proper authorities as to the state of health of
a ship's company at the time of her leaving port. — Bill of indictment, a written accusation lawfully
presented to a grand jury. If the jury consider the evidence sufficient to support the accusation, they
indorse it "A true bill," otherwise they write upon it "Not a true bill," or "Not found," or "Ignoramus", or "Ignored."
— Bill of lading, a written account of goods shipped by any person, signed by the agent of
the owner of the vessel, or by its master, acknowledging the receipt of the goods, and promising to deliver
them safe at the place directed, dangers of the sea excepted. It is usual for the master to sign two,
three, or four copies of the bill; one of which he keeps in possession, one is kept by the shipper, and
one is sent to the consignee of the goods. — Bill of mortality, an official statement of the number of
deaths in a place or district within a given time; also, a district required to be covered by such statement; as,
a place within the bills of mortality of London. — Bill of pains and penalties, a special act of a legislature
which inflicts a punishment less than death upon persons supposed to be guilty of treason or felony,
without any conviction in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings. Bouvier. Wharton. — Bill of
parcels, an account given by the seller to the buyer of the several articles purchased, with the price
of each. — Bill of particulars (Law), a detailed statement of the items of a plaintiff's demand in an
action, or of the defendant's set-off. - - Bill of rights, a summary of rights and privileges claimed by a
people. Such was the declaration presented by the Lords and Commons of England to the Prince and
Princess of Orange in 1688, and enacted in Parliament after they became king and queen. In America,
a bill or declaration of rights is prefixed to most of the constitutions of the several States. — Bill of
sale, a formal instrument for the conveyance or transfer of goods and chattels. — Bill of sight, a
form of entry at the customhouse, by which goods, respecting which the importer is not possessed of
full information, may be provisionally landed for examination. — Bill of store, a license granted at the
customhouse to merchants, to carry such stores and provisions as are necessary for a voyage, custom
free. Wharton. — Bills payable the outstanding unpaid notes or acceptances made and issued by an
individual or firm. — Bills receivable the unpaid promissory notes or acceptances held by an individual
or firm. McElrath. — A true bill, a bill of indictment sanctioned by a grand jury.
Bill
(Bill), v. t.
1. To advertise by a bill or public notice.
2. To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods.
Billage
(Bil"lage) n. &and v. t. & i. Same as Bilge.
Billard
(Bil"lard) n. (Zoöl.) An English fish, allied to the cod; the coalfish. [Written also billet and billit.]
Billbeetle
(Bill`bee"tle or Bill"bug`) n. (Zoöl.) A weevil or curculio of various species, as the corn weevil.
See Curculio.
Billboard
(Bill"board`) n.
1. (Naut.) A piece of thick plank, armed with iron plates, and fixed on the bow or fore channels of a
vessel, for the bill or fluke of the anchor to rest on. Totten.
2. A flat surface, as of a panel or of a fence, on which bills are posted; a bulletin board.
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