bill English · revision 3480

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /bɪl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|written statement}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1370 (Chaucer)|origins=la bulla}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The written statement is [[inh|enm|bille]], [[bor|xno|bille|t=list, schedule, account]] and Anglo-Latin billa,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-med|bulla|t=decree, seal, sealed document]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Klein 1966) from [[la|bulla|t=bubble, boss, stud, amulet]], the source of [[bull#2|alt=bull]] “papal edict”.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Klein 1966) Barnhart takes the Anglo-French word as a blend of Old French bille “stick of wood” with bulle “decree”,^(Barnhart 1988) and Hoad calls it of uncertain origin.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A formal plea or charge in law: about 1370, in Chaucer's ''An A.B.C.'',^(Barnhart 1988) and a written document generally about 1374.^(OED 1989) A petition to someone in authority is from 1321.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Word Origins notes that in the Middle Ages a ''bill'' was any written statement or list, a sense surviving in ''a clean bill of health''.^(Cresswell 2021) A written list or inventory is from 1404.^(HTOED) A statement of goods sold or services given, a bill of charges, is from about 1400,^(Etymonline) or 1420.^(HTOED) A public notice or poster is from the late 15th century,^(Etymonline) the draft of a law presented to a legislature from the 1510s,^(Etymonline) and an order to pay, a ''bill of exchange'', from the 1570s.^(Etymonline) Paper money is a ''bill'' from the 1660s,^(Etymonline) now chiefly in American use;^(SOED 2002) in parts of England a banknote was also a ''bill''.^(Wright 1898) The verb “to send a bill to” is from 1864^(Etymonline) or 1867,^(OED 1989) and “to announce by bill” from 1694.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1321 – a petition.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1370 – a formal charge in law (Chaucer).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – a statement of charges.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – a poster.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1510s – a draft law.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1570s – a bill of exchange.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1660s – paper money.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1694 – verb, to advertise.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1864 – verb, to charge.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An itemized statement of charges; an [[invoice]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A list of particulars, such as a theatre programme or menu; the entertainment on a programme.^(AHD)

+ # A public notice or [[poster]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(chiefly US)'' A piece of paper money.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A draft of a proposed law.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A [[bill of exchange]]; a [[promissory note]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To send a statement of charges to.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To advertise or schedule by public notice or as part of a programme.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[billing]]

+ * [[billable]]

+ * [[billboard]]

+ * [[billposter]]

+ * [[bill of fare]]

+ * [[bill of rights]]

+ * [[bill of sale]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|beak}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=c. 1000 (Old English bile)|origins=ang bile}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The beak is [[inh|enm|bile]], [[inh|ang|bile|t=beak]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD 2000) of unknown origin according to the SOED and the COED.^(SOED 2002)^(COED 2004) Etymonline, Barnhart and Merriam-Webster relate it to Old English [[m|ang|bill]], the weapon (see [[bill#3]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A bird's beak: Old English ''bile'', about 1000,^(Barnhart 1988) or before 1000.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A beaklike projection, such as a narrow promontory, is from 1382,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) as in ''Portland Bill''.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The point of an anchor's fluke is from 1769.^(OED 1989) The verb, of doves, “to stroke bill with bill” is from 1592,^(OED 1989) and of lovers, “to caress”, from 1606;^(OED 1989) ''bill and coo'' is by 1768.^(Etymonline) The visor of a cap is a ''bill'' in American use.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – Old English ''bile''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1382 – a promontory.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1592 – verb, of doves.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1606 – verb, to caress.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1768 – ''bill and coo''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The horny jaws of a bird; a [[beak]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # A beaklike mouth part, as of a [[turtle]] or [[platypus]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The [[visor]] of a cap.^(AHD)

+ # A narrow [[promontory]].^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)

+ # The tip of the fluke of an anchor.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To touch beaks together; to caress: ''bill and coo''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[billfish]]

+ * [[duckbill]]

+ * [[spoonbill]]

+ * [[broadbill]]

+

+ {{homograph|3|weapon, billhook}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725 (Beowulf)|origins=gem-pro *bilją}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The weapon is [[inh|enm|bil]], [[inh|ang|bill|t=sword, chopping tool]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) from [[gem-pro|*bilją]],^(Etymonline) a word for cutting or chopping weapons.^(Etymonline) Its cognates include [[osx|bil|t=sword]], [[goh|bill|t=pickaxe]], [[nl|bijl|t=axe]] and [[de|Beil|t=hatchet]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline suggests [[ine-pro|*bʰeyH-|alt=*bheie-|t=to cut, to strike]], comparing Old Church Slavonic biti “to strike” and Old Irish biail “axe”.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A kind of sword in Old English poetry: about 725, in ''Beowulf'',^(Barnhart 1988) and earlier in the compound wudubil “pruning hook”, about 700.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A pruning implement for cutting wood and hedges is from about 1000.^(OED 1989) A medieval infantry weapon like a [[halberd]] with a hooked blade is from about 1300,^(OED 1989) and a similar staff carried by constables of the watch until the late 18th century from 1589.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 700 – Old English ''wudubil''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 725 – a sword (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1000 – a pruning tool.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – a halberd-like weapon.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[billhook]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(historical)'' A [[halberd]] or similar long-handled weapon with a hooked blade.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[billhook]]

+ * [[billman]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bull]]

+ * [[bulletin]]

+ * [[billet]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In British slang, ''the Bill'' or ''the Old Bill'' is the police, from 1939, from the nickname for William.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) The OED also records a rare ''bill'' “the boom of the bittern”.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}