Old Bill en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Unknown. Suggested sources for the police officer and police force terms include: #Old Bill, comic character created by Bruce Bairnsfather. #Music hall song "Won't you come home, Bill Bailey", which references the Old Bailey criminal court. #William IV (reigned 1830-37), who became king the year after the Metropolitan Police were founded (1829). #Wilhelm I, Prussian Kaiser who visited the UK around the same time the custodian helmet was adopted (1863). #bill (“cutting instrument”) or billhook, weapons carried by constables of the watch. #bill (“written note of services rendered”), allegedly presented by a police officer to solicit a bribe. #bill (“draft of a law”), laid in Parliament. #Number plates for all public services, including police, registered by London County Council with the letter "BYL". ##Specifically, the cars of the Flying Squad. #Bill Smith, a popular police sergeant in Limehouse circa 1860s.
Meanings
- (UK, slang) A police officer.
- (British, qualifier:frequently with the, slang) The police force.
- (British, dated, slang) A soldier, especially one who resembles the cartoon character of the same name created by Bruce Bairnsfather in 1914.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| the Old Bill | canonical | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Tommy Atkins · PC Plod · garda · dogface · jarhead · crowns · polis · bluecoat · po-po · Babylon · bobby · finest · barney · police officer · lawman · John Q. Law · serviceman · constabulary · jake · polis · plod · policeperson · law · scufter · gendarme · peeler · ducks and geese · Officer Friendly · police service · police · Inspector Knacker · flatfoot · plod · donut patrol · buttons · piglice · jawan · Johnny Hopper · Old Bill · maaveh · roller · cozzer · slop · bluebottle · alphabet · 5-O · bull · blue heeler · rozzer · five-o · any plural synonym of police officer · charpering omi · Old Bill · warrior · bacon · five-o · piggy · Bill · fuzz · Tommy · ecilop · sweat · monarch · servicewoman · John Law · mee-maw · police force · GI · finger · glowie · esclop · Old Bill · rozzer · squaddie · flatty · fuzz · swine · gendarmerie · jackboot · grunt · lobster · serviceperson · blue meanie · harman-beck · wooden-top · beatsman · sweat · jack · body snatcher · crusher · Tommy · bizzie · fed · force · boydem · old sweat · harman · filth · doughboy · bogey · filth · heat · trooper · one-time · pig · esclop · squaddie · walloper · cobbler · nuthook · 5-O · guardian of the peace · tyre biter · thin blue line · cop · regular · policeman · plod · gardai · dibble · police · tirailleur · soldier · centenier · oinker · police department · dibble · po-po · bobby · statie · Big Blue Machine · chazzer · cracker · Mr Plod · garda · bullyman · PC Plod · digger · unboiled lobster · feds · copper · boy in blue · mutton shunter · twelve · Bill · ground pounder · monarch · raw lobster