billy

1 of 2

noun (1)

bil·​ly ˈbi-lē 

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

1

: billy club

2

: billy goat

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• bastinado
• bastinade
• bat
• baton
• billy club
• bludgeon
• cane
• club
• cudgel
• nightstick
• rod
• rung [Scottish]
• sap
• shillelagh
• shillalah
• staff
• truncheon
• waddy [Australian]

Examples of billy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

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

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

Phrases Containing billy

• billy club
• billy goat
• billy-bi

• billy club
• billy goat
• billy-bi

Kids Definition

billy

noun

bil·​ly

ˈbil-ē

plural billies

1

: billy club

2

: billy goat