Billhook
(Bill"hook`) n. [Bill + hook.] A thick, heavy knife with a hooked point, used in pruning hedges,
etc. When it has a short handle, it is sometimes called a hand bill; when the handle is long, a hedge
bill or scimiter.
Billiard
(Bil"liard) a. Of or pertaining to the game of billiards. "Smooth as is a billiard ball." B. Jonson.
Billiards
(Bil"liards) n. [F. billiard billiards, OF. billart staff, cue form playing, fr. bille log. See Billet a
stick.] A game played with ivory balls o a cloth-covered, rectangular table, bounded by elastic cushions.
The player seeks to impel his ball with his cue so that it shall either strike (carom upon) two other balls,
or drive another ball into one of the pockets with which the table sometimes is furnished.
Billing
(Bill"ing) a. & n. Caressing; kissing.
Billingsgate
(Bil"lings*gate`) n.
1. A market near the Billings gate in London, celebrated for fish and foul language.
2. Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language; vituperation; ribaldry.
Billion
(Bil"lion) n. [F. billion, arbitrarily formed fr. L. bis twice, in imitation of million a million. See
Million.] According to the French and American method of numeration, a thousand millions, or 1,000,000,000; according
to the English method, a million millions, or 1,000,000,000,000. See Numeration.
Billman
(Bill"man) n.; pl. Billmen One who uses, or is armed with, a bill or hooked ax. "A billman of
the guard." Savile.
Billon
(||Bil`lon") n. [F. Cf. Billet a stick.] An alloy of gold and silver with a large proportion of copper
or other base metal, used in coinage.
Billot
(Bil"lot) n. [F. billot, dim. of bille. See Billet a stick.] Bullion in the bar or mass.
Billow
(Bil"low) n. [Cf. Icel. bylgja billow, Dan. bölge, Sw. bölja; akin to MHG. bulge billow, bag, and
to E. bulge. See Bulge.]
1. A great wave or surge of the sea or other water, caused usually by violent wind.
Whom the winds waft where'er the billows roll.
Cowper.
2. A great wave or flood of anything. Milton.
Billow
(Bil"low), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billowed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Billowing.] To surge; to rise and roll in
waves or surges; to undulate. "The billowing snow." Prior.
Billowy
(Bil"low*y) a. Of or pertaining to billows; swelling or swollen into large waves; full of billows or
surges; resembling billows.
And whitening down the many-tinctured stream,
Descends the billowy foam.
Thomson.
Billposter
(Bill"post`er Bill"stick"er) n. One whose occupation is to post handbills or posters in public
places.
Billy
(Bil"ly) n.
1. A club; esp., a policeman's club.
2. (Wool Manuf.) A slubbing or roving machine.
