n. & v.
—n.
1 a a printed or written statement of charges for goods supplied or services rendered. b the amount owed (ran up a bill of pound300).
2 a draft of a proposed law.
3 a a poster; a placard. b = HANDBILL.
4 a a printed list, esp. a theatre programme. b the entertainment itself (top of the bill).
5 US a banknote (ten dollar bill).
—v.tr.
1 put in the programme; announce.
2 (foll. by as) advertise.
3 send a note of charges to (billed him for the books).
Phrases and idioms:
bill of exchange Econ. a written order to pay a sum of money on a given date to the drawer or to a named payee. bill of fare
1 a menu.
2 a programme (for a theatrical event).
bill of health
1 Naut. a certificate regarding infectious disease on a ship or in a port at the time of sailing.
2 (clean bill of health) a such a certificate stating that there is no disease. b a declaration that a person or thing examined has been found to be free of illness or in good condition. bill of indictment hist. or US a written accusation as presented to a grand jury.
bill of lading Naut.
1 a shipmaster's detailed list of the ship's cargo.
2 US = WAYBILL.
Bill of Rights
1 Law the English constitutional settlement of 1689.
2 Law (in the US) the constitutional amendments of 1791.
3 a statement of the rights of a class of people. bill of sale Econ. a certificate of transfer of personal property, esp. as a security against debt.
Derivatives:
billable adj.
Etymology: ME f. AF bille, AL billa, prob. alt. of med.L bulla seal, sealed documents, BULL(2)
2.
n. & v.
—n.
1 the beak of a bird, esp. when it is slender, flattened, or weak, or belongs to a web-footed bird or a bird of the pigeon family.
2 the muzzle of a platypus.
3 a narrow promontory.
4 the point of an anchor-fluke.
—v.intr. (of doves etc.) stroke a bill with a bill.
Phrases and idioms:
bill and coo exchange caresses.
Derivatives:
billed adj. (usu. in comb.).
Etymology: OE bile, of unkn. orig.
3.
n.
1 hist. a weapon like a halberd with a hook instead of a blade.
2 = BILLHOOK.
Etymology: OE bil, ult. f. Gmc
Useful english dictionary. 2012.