Dictionary

Billy en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɪli/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

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!”. 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 98:
   • Then there’s Billy Long, a former auctioneer and Republican congressman who Trump nominated and was confirmed less than two months ago to head the Internal Revenue Service, with “little background in tax policy beyond promoting a fraud-riddled tax credit”. Long has already been fired after clashing with the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. Long was the sixth person to head the IRS this year. 2025 August 25, Robert Reich, “Why Trump built a staff of incompetent sycophants”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 25 Aug 2025:
2. (US, qualifier:nickname) 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.
   • Just then a squadron of "Billys" -- twin-engined B-25 Mitchell land-based bombers -- flew overhead …. 2003 Bradley, James Flyboys. New York: Little, Brown and Company. Ch 7

Forms

Deriveds

Billy Big Bollocks · Billyish · Billy Dee · Billys Creek · King Billy · Bashful Billy · Billy no mates · Silly Billy · Billy bollocks · Billy Webb · Billy Pugh · Billy Boy · billy goat · Billster · Billygate · puffing Billy · Billy Big Balls · Billyjean · Billy Wigglestick

Relateds

Billie

Translations (13)

pl Wim (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Wil (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Wilmek (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Helek (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · ru Би́лли (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Wili (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Wilm (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Wilem (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Hel (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Helmek (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · el Μπίλι (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Wilhelmek (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill) · pl Helm (a diminutive of the male given name William — see also Bill)