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Billy

//ˈbɪli// name, noun, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun

1
A diminutive of the male given name William.
"“By the way,” Jessamy went on, “what’s your other name? You never told me.” “Stubbs,” said Billy, “William Stubbs!”."
2
The B-25 twin-engine bomber aircraft used during World War Two, commonly called the "B-25 Mitchell" in honor of U.S. Army General William "Billy" Mitchell. US
"Just then a squadron of "Billys" -- twin-engined B-25 Mitchell land-based bombers -- flew overhead …."

Noun

1
A fellow, companion, comrade, mate; partner, brother.
2
A highwayman's club, billy club.
3
male goat wordnet
4
A good friend. Geordie
"Fareweel, my rhyme-compoſing billie! / Your native ſoil was right ill-willie; / But may ye flouriſh like a lily, / Now bonilie! / I'll toaſt ye in my hindmoſt gillie, / Tho' owre the Sea!"
5
A slubbing or roving machine.
"[…]at the time there existed in Dublin and its immediate neighbourhood, “forty-five manufacturers, having twenty-two billies, giving employment to 2885 work people, on whom depended for support 7386 individuals, manufacturing 29,312 pieces of cloth, of various qualities, valued at £336,380.”"

Show 6 more definitions

6
a short stout club used primarily by policemen wordnet
7
A billy goat.
"1970 August, Valerius Geist, Mountain Goat Mysteries, Field & Stream, page 62, Then, during three days, I was amazed to see nannies with kids attack and chase off large billies."
8
A tin with a swing handle used to boil tea over an open fire; a billycan; a billypot. Australia, New-Zealand
"Let's get the billy and cook some beans."
9
A silk handkerchief. UK, obsolete, slang
"All fighting coves you too must know, / Ben Caunt as well as Bendigo, / And to each mill be sure to go, / […] And you must sport a blue billy, / Or a yellow wipe […]"
10
A bong for smoking marijuana. Australia, slang
11
A condom. slang

Etymology

Etymology 1

Of obscure origin. Perhaps a variant of bully (“companion, mate, comrade”). Compare Scots billie (“a comrade; companion”). Compare also Middle Low German billig (“equitable, reasonable, lawful, fitting, according to natural law, just”).

Etymology 2

Uncertain, but probably extracted from Scots billypot (“a type of cooking pot”), perhaps originally from the name Billy, a diminutive of William. The condom sense from the E-Rotic song Willy, Use a Billy... Boy, referring in turn to Billy Boy, a German brand of condoms.

Etymology 3

Diminutive and pet-form; from Bill + -y.

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