bill

plural bills

1. A written list or inventory. (Now obsolete except in specific senses or set phrases; bill of lading, bill of goods, etc.)
2. A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.)
3. A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.

   Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I beg to introduce a bill entitled[…]

   2 more examples

   Why, I'll exhibit a bill in the parliament for the putting down of men.

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], line 28

   David Cameron insists that his latest communications data bill is “vital to counter terrorism”. Yet terror is mayhem. It is no threat to freedom. That threat is from counter-terror, from ministers capitulating to securocrats.

   2012 December 14, Simon Jenkins, “We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 2, page 23

   Synonyms: measure

4. obsoletelawA declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by some person against a law.

   ... the legion of bills in the suit have been transformed into mere bills of mortality ...

   1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, chapter 1, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC

5. CanadaUSA piece of paper money; a banknote.

   I ran into the Devil, babe, he loaned me 20 bills.

   1970, “Friend of the Devil”, performed by Grateful Dead

   2 more examples

   He gave the change for a three dollar bill. Upon examination, the bill proved to be counterfeit.

   1830, anonymous author, The Galaxy of Wit: Or, Laughing Philosopher, Being a Collection of Choice Anecdotes, Many of Which Originated in or about "The Literary Emporium"

   […]So I wropped 'em up in a five dollar bill and tied 'em up and sent 'em, and they ain't back yet.”

   1935, Cabins in the Laurel, University of North Carolina Press, published 19 March 2014, →ISBN, page 231

   1. CanadaUSslangOne hundred dollars.

      There was no excuse, simply no excuse for not making four or five bills a week. A little initiative, that's all.

      1954, Budd Schulberg, On the Waterfront, Random House, page 25

      1 more example

      All we got from her was Stranahan's location, and barely that. A house in the bay, she said. A house with a windmill. Easiest five bills that woman ever made.

      1989, Carl Hiaasen, Skin Tight, Penguin Group, →ISBN, page 113

6. UKslangOne hundred pounds sterling.

   In the conversation Henshall says he "struggling to find people to go up the roads" explaining how it would be "no good for black people" and how they need a "young white boy to go up there". Stock agrees, saying how he knows "this kid" who "owes me 12 bills".

   2023, BBC News: "Newport: Drugs gang jailed for exploiting vulnerable child" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66570256

7. A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge owing; an invoice.

   He received a bill of £9 for the groceries.

   1 more example

   My lord, here is my bill.

   c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], line 85

   Synonyms: account, invoice

8. IndiaslangA written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, listing the price or charge paid; a receipt.
9. A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods

   In the meantime I will draw a bill of properties, such as our play wants.

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 104

   Synonyms: broadsheet, broadside, card, circular, flier, flyer, handbill, poster

10. A writing that binds the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated in the document; a bill of exchange. In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of hand, or a promissory note.

    Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a gentleman born, Master Parson; who writes himself Armigero, in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, Armigero.

    c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], line 8

    Synonyms: bank bill, banker's bill, bank note, banknote, Federal Reserve note, government note, greenback, note

11. A set of items presented together.

    We've got a brilliant new comedian on the bill tonight.

    1 more example

    Meanwhile, the bills on the main stages skewed towards mainstream pop, with mixed results. Lorde’s Friday evening Other stage appearance was one of the weekend’s highlights. The staging and choreography were fantastic – a giant glass tank on a hydraulic platform, in and around which a troupe of dancers acted out the highs and lows of a teenage party

    2017 June 26, Alexis Petridis, “Glastonbury 2017 verdict: Radiohead, Foo Fighters, Lorde, Stormzy and more”, in the Guardian

12. UKEton CollegeA list of pupils to be disciplined for breaking school rules.

    1 more example

    One of the best stories of the period describes the misadventure of a batch of candidates for confirmation whose names were by accident sent up to the Head-Master on a piece of paper identical in size and shape with the "bill" used by the Masters for the purpose of reporting delinquents. Keate, we are told, insisted on flogging all the boys mentioned in the document […]

    1875, Sir H. C. Maxwell Lyte, A History of Eton College, 1440-1875, page 373

present singular third person bills · participle present billing · participle past billed · past billed

1. transitiveTo advertise by a bill or public notice.

   [...] it will be recalled that in 1960 they were billed as the long-distance express multiple-units of the future, [...].

   1962 October, G. Freeman Allen, “First impressions of the Clacton electric multiple-units”, in Modern Railways, page 260

   Synonyms: placard

2. transitiveTo charge; to send a bill to.

   The physician explains that this is an option for her and that she can sign the facility's ABN so that if Medicare denies the claim, the facility can bill her for the scan.

   1989, Michelle Green, Understanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billing and Reimbursement

   Synonyms: charge

plural bills

1. biologyThe beak of a bird, especially when small or flattish; sometimes also used with reference to a platypus, turtle, or other animal.

   "Army planes." Quack-quack-quack-quack-quack. Who was the one in front with the yellow bill? Jimmy Doolittle?

   1942 November 3, “Duck Hunting”, in Fibber McGee and Molly, spoken by Mayor LaTrivia

   2 more examples

   The woosel cock so black of hue, With orange-tawny bill, The throstle with his note so true, The wren with little quill[…]

   c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], line 125

   […] The flesh [of the mistletoe berry] is sticky, and forms strings and ribbons between my thumb and forefinger. For the mistletoe, this viscous goop – and by the way, viscous comes to English from viscum – is crucial. The stickiness means that, after eating the berries, birds often regurgitate the seeds and then wipe their bills on twigs – leading to the seeds' getting glued to the tree, where they can germinate and begin the cycle anew.

   2014 December 23, Olivia Judson, “The hemiparasite season [print version: Under the hemiparasite, International New York Times, 24–25 December 2014, page 7]”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 23 Dec 2014

   Synonyms: beak, neb, nib, pecker

2. A beaklike projection, especially a promontory.

   There is a lighthouse on Portland Bill.

3. Of a cap or hat: the brim or peak, serving as a shade to keep sun off the face and out of the eyes.

   Synonyms: brim, hatbrim

present singular third person bills · participle present billing · participle past billed · past billed

1. obsoleteto peck
2. to stroke bill against bill, with reference to doves; to caress in fondness

   As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]

plural bills

1. Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.

   France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows and bills.

   1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   At Floddon hyllys, / Our bowys, our byllys / Slew all the floure / Of theyr honoure.

   1513, John Skelton, Agaynst the Scottes; republished in John Scattergood, editor, John Skelton: The Complete English Poems, 1983, →OCLC, page 116, lines 25–28

   In the British Museum there is an entry of a warrant, granted to Nicholas Spicer, authorising him to impress smiths for making two thousand Welch bills or glaives.

   1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, […], London: […] S. Hooper, […], →OCLC

   Synonyms: polearm

2. A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle, used in pruning, etc.; a billhook.

   Synonyms: billhook, hand bill, hedgebill

3. Somebody armed with a bill; a billman.

   Synonyms: billman

4. A pickaxe or mattock.
5. nauticalThe extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke (also called the peak).

present singular third person bills · participle present billing · participle past billed · past billed

1. transitiveTo dig, chop, etc., with a bill.

plural bills

1. The bell, or boom, of the bittern.

   The bittern's hollow bill was heard.

   1793, William Wordsworth, An Evening Walk

present singular third person bills · participle present billing · participle past billed · past billed

1. UKambitransitiveslangTo roll up a marijuana cigarette.

   And we don't really need Netflix, I'mma give you something to watch / After we done, bill a spliff and cotch / Pour me a glass of the Henny on the rocks

   2016 February 14, Joseph Adenuga, Darren Dixon, Tariq Devega, “Ladies Hit Squad” (track 6), in Konnichiwa, performed by Skepta ft. D Double E and ASAP Nast, Boy Better Know

plural Bills

1. A diminutive of the male given name William.

   "My other name's Bill," he said. "I was christened Bill but Mr Thursgood calls me William." / "Bill, eh. The unpaid Bill. Anyone ever call you that?" / "No, sir." / "Good name, anyway." / "Yes, sir." / "Known a lot of Bills. They've all been good 'uns."

   1974, John le Carré, Tinker. Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Simon&Schuster, published 2002, →ISBN, page 7

   2 more examples

   One of his neighbours opposite, a nice old guy with a stoop and a horrible little Yorkshire terrier, called him Bill - always had done and presumably always would, right up till the day he died. It actually irritated Will, who was not, he felt, by any stretch of the imagination, a Bill. Bill wouldn't smoke spliffs and listen to Nirvana. So why had he allowed this misapprehension to continue? Why hadn't he just said, four years ago, "Actually my name is Will"?

   1998, Nick Hornby, About A Boy, Victor Gollancz, published 1998, →ISBN, page 208

   Her tone shift involved former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton lampooning their fellow ex-president as a figure of ridicule. Then Harris closed the trap with a line in her convention speech: “Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences … of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”

   2024 August 26, Stephen Collinson, “Trump’s personal attacks aren’t just who he is. They’re his strategy”, in CNN

2. rareA diminutive of the male given name Bilal.

   Bill Essayli, Trump’s pick in April to temporarily lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, should have departed the post by July 31 under a 120-day limit imposed by federal law, U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright concluded.

   2025 October 28, Kyle Cheney, Josh Gerstein, “Judge rules LA’s top federal prosecutor was illegally appointed”, in POLITICO

3. A surname.
4. UKslangA nickname for the British constabulary. Often called "The Bill" or "Old Bill"