Part 649

Bill, v. t. 1. To advertise by a bill or public notice.

2. To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods.

Bil"lage (&?;), n. ∧ v. t. & i. Same as Bilge.

Bil"lard (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) An English fish, allied to the cod; the coalfish. [Written also billet and billit.]

{Bill`bee"tle (&?;), or Bill"bug` } (&?;), n. (Zoöl.) A weevil or curculio of various species, as the corn weevil. See Curculio.

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.

Bill" book` (&?;). (Com.) A book in which a person keeps an account of his notes, bills, bills of exchange, etc., thus showing all that he issues and receives.

Bill" bro`ker (&?;). One who negotiates the discount of bills.

Billed (&?;), a. Furnished with, or having, a bill, as a bird; -- used in composition; as, broad- billed.

Bil"let (&?;), n. [F. billet, dim. of an OF. bille bill. See Bill a writing.] 1. A small paper; a note; a short letter. "I got your melancholy billet." Sterne.

2. A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to lodge; as, a billet of residence.

Bil"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Billeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Billeting.] [From Billet a ticket.] (Mil.) To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.

Billeted in so antiquated a mansion. W. Irving.

Bil"let, n. [F. billette, bille, log; of unknown origin; a different word from bille ball. Cf. Billiards, Billot.] 1. A small stick of wood, as for firewood.

They shall beat out my brains with billets. Shak.

2. (Metal.) A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron.

3. (Arch.) An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round.

4. (Saddlery) (a) A strap which enters a buckle. (b) A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap. Knight.

5. (Her.) A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle.

||Bil`let-doux" (bl`l*d"), n.; pl. Billets-doux (bl`l*dz"). [F. billet note + doux sweet, L. dulcis.] A love letter or note.

A lover chanting out a billet-doux. Spectator.

Bil"let*head` (bl"lt*hd), n. (Naut.) A round piece of timber at the bow or stern of a whaleboat, around which the harpoon line is run out when the whale darts off.

Bill"fish` (-fsh`), n. (Zoöl.) A name applied to several distinct fishes: (a) The garfish (Tylosurus, or Belone, longirostris) and allied species. (b) The saury, a slender fish of the Atlantic coast (Scomberesox saurus). (c) The Tetrapturus albidus, a large oceanic species related to the swordfish; the spearfish. (d) The American fresh-water garpike (Lepidosteus osseus).

Bill"head` (-hd`), n. A printed form, used by merchants in making out bills or rendering accounts.

Bill" hold`er (bl" hl`dr). 1. A person who holds a bill or acceptance.

2. A device by means of which bills, etc., are held.

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.