billy

1 of 2

noun (1)

bil·​ly ˈbi-lē How to pronounce billy (audio)
plural billies
chiefly Australia and New Zealand
: a metal or enamelware pail or pot with a lid and wire bail

called also billycan

billy

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural billies

Examples of billy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Also on the Friday bill are: Jai Paul, 100 gecs, Jeff Rosenstock, Yaeji, Sudan Archives, Amen Dunes, billy woods & Kenny Segal, Tkay Maidza, Doss, ML Buch, Rosali, Angry Blackmen, and Black Duck. Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2024 Courts have defined a billy as any kind of stick, bat or baton that is intended to be used as a weapon — even common items like a baseball bat or table leg could qualify if it is meant to hurt someone else. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2024 The rap duo—comprised of billy woods and Elucid—previously teamed up with the Alchemist for the 2021 collaboration Haram. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 27 Feb. 2024 The suit challenges only the prohibition on the billy and not the other weapons listed in the same statute. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2024 While the law doesn’t explicitly define a billy, courts have determined it to be any kind of stick, bat or baton that is intended to be used as a weapon. Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'billy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Scots billy-pot cooking utensil

Noun (2)

probably from the name Billy

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1839, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of billy was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near billy

Cite this Entry

“Billy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

billy

noun
bil·​ly
ˈbil-ē
plural billies

More from Merriam-Webster on billy

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