billingsgate

B3I1L1L1I1N1G2S1G2A1T1E1

noun

Profane, abusive language; coarse words.

“You wouldn't have believed the billingsgate which poured forth from that boy's mouth.”

Similar
scurrility
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Meanings

billingsgate1

noun
  1. Profane, abusive language; coarse words.

    You wouldn't have believed the billingsgate which poured forth from that boy's mouth.

    1 more example

    These "flytings" consisted of alternate torrents of sheer Billingsgate poured upon each other by the combatants.

    1898, George Saintsbury, A Short History of English Literature
verbbillingsgate (third-person singular simple present billingsgates, present participle billingsgating, simple past and past participle billingsgated)

present singular third person billingsgates · participle present billingsgating · participle past billingsgated · past billingsgated

  1. transitiveTo use profane, abusive language towards.

    On the other hand, the Englishman has the satisfaction of Billingsgating to his heart's content the highest officials: they accept objurgation with spaniel fawning.

    1905, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 177, page 99

Billingsgate2

proper noun

alternative obsolete Billynges gate

  1. A ward of the City of London, Greater London, England.

    And vppon fridaye the morowe after brought it vpp to Billynges gate in London

    1569, C. R., The true discripcion of this marueilous straunge Fishe, whiche was taken on thursday was sennight, the .xvi. day of June, this present month, in the yeare of our Lord God. M.DLX.ix.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounfoul-mouthed or obscene abuse

Similar
scurrility
Broader
abuseinsultrevilement
Also see
scurrilityswearing

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From the London, England fishmarket Billingsgate: "Billingsgate is the market where the fishwomen assemble to purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners a little on the left hand." (Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Polish obelżywy język, używać obelżywego języka
  • obelżywy językprofane, abusive language
  • używać obelżywego językato use profane, abusive language towards
  • użyć obelżywego językato use profane, abusive language towards
Cite this entry
APA

billingsgate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/billingsgate

MLA

“billingsgate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/billingsgate. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “billingsgate,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/billingsgate.

Source: billingsgate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.