billet

1 of 3

noun (1)

bil·​let ˈbi-lət 

1

archaic : a brief letter : note

2

a

: an official order directing that a member of a military force be provided with board and lodging (as in a private home)

b

: quarters assigned by or as if by a billet

3

: position, job

a lucrative billet

billet

2 of 3

verb

billeted; billeting; billets

transitive verb

1

: to assign lodging to (someone, such as a soldier) by or as if by a billet

2

: to serve with a billet

billet a householder

billet

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: a chunky piece of wood (as for firewood)

b

obsolete : cudgel

2

a

: a bar of metal

b

: a piece of semifinished iron or steel nearly square in section made by rolling an ingot or bloom

c

: a section of nonferrous metal ingot hot-worked by forging, rolling, or extrusion

d

: a nonferrous casting suitable for rolling or extrusion

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• appointment
• berth
• capacity
• connection
• function
• job
• place
• position
• post
• situation

Verb

• accommodate
• bestow
• bivouac
• board
• bunk
• camp
• chamber
• domicile
• encamp
• harbor
• house
• lodge
• put up
• quarter
• roof
• room
• shelter
• take in

Noun (2)

• bar
• rod

Examples of billet in a Sentence

Noun (1)

found a billet at one of the leading brokerage houses in New York

Verb

every colonial household was expected to billet a British soldier

Noun (2)

a stack of gold billets in the vault

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But the New Order’s demise shrunk the available nonmilitary billets even as the officer corps size remained and then grew—from 46,168 personnel in 2004 to 52,940 in 2009. —Evan A. Laksmana, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2015

Each of its frames are hand-finished in its English factory, while certain parts are chiseled from solid blocks of billet aluminum. —Charlie Thomas, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2024

Verb

The mercenaries billeted there scrawled graffiti across the frescoes. —Nick Bowlin, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024

For nine seasons over 10 years, Ward and her husband, Butch, lodged, fed, inspired, consoled, polished and did laundry for 15 young men who billeted in their Ashwaubenon home for a year or two and then advanced in hockey. —Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 2 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bylet, from Anglo-French billette, diminutive of bille bill

Noun (2)

Middle English bylet, from Anglo-French billete, diminutive of bille log, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish bile landmark tree

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing billet

• billet-doux

Kids Definition

billet

1 of 3 noun

bil·​let ˈbil-ət 

1

: an official order that a soldier be put up in a private home

2

: quarters assigned by or as if by a billet

3

: job sense 3, position

billet

2 of 3 verb

: to assign lodging to : quarter

billet

3 of 3 noun

1

: a chunky piece of wood (as for firewood)

2

: a bar of metal

especially : one of iron or steel

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bylet "brief note," from early French billette, literally, "little document," derived from Latin billa "document"

Noun

Middle English bylet "chunk of wood," from early French billete, literally, "little log"; of Celtic origin