billet English · revision 1097

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbɪlɪt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ There are two words.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) ''Billet'' “note, lodging order” comes from Middle English ''bylet'',^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|xno|billette|t=list, schedule]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a diminutive of ''bille'' “written statement”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) the source of [[bill]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) ''Billet'' “stick of wood” comes from Middle French ''billette'', a diminutive of ''bille'' “log”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-med|billia|t=tree trunk]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) probably of Gaulish origin;^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) compare Old Irish ''bile'' “tree trunk”.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A short written document or note (1317 in the OED; an official register in the late 13th century in Etymonline);^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) a thick piece of firewood (1361).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In military use a billet was an order requiring a householder to give board and lodging to the soldier bearing it (1644),^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and the verb to quarter soldiers is from 1599.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) From 1830 the noun meant the lodging itself,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and later a job or appointment.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) The wooden billet gave its name to bars of metal (1353) and to an ornamental moulding in Norman architecture (1835).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1317 – a short written note.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1353 – a bar of iron or steel.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1361 – a piece of firewood.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1599 – verb, to quarter soldiers.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1644 – an order to lodge soldiers.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1830 – a soldier's lodging.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Lodging for soldiers, or for others such as students or a visiting team.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A written order directing that soldiers be given lodging.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A position of employment; a [[job]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A short letter; a note.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A short, thick piece of wood, especially for firewood.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A small bar of iron or steel in an intermediate stage of manufacture.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To lodge soldiers or others, usually by order; to [[quarter]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To be quartered or lodged.^(AHD)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[billeter]]

+ * [[billethead]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[billon]]

+ * [[bill]]

+ * [[billet-doux]]

+ * [[bull]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}