bill en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English bille, from Anglo-Norman bille, from Old French bulle, from Medieval Latin bulla (“seal, sealed document”). Doublet of bull (“papal bull; bubble”) and bulla.
Meanings
- A written list or inventory. (Now obsolete except in specific senses or set phrases; bill of lading, bill of goods, etc.)
- A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.)
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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[…]
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:
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(obsolete) A 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:
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(Canada, US) A piece of paper money; a banknote.
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:I ran into the Devil, babe, he loaned me 20 bills.
1970, “Friend of the Devil”, performed by Grateful Dead:
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(Canada, US, slang) A piece of paper money; a banknote. ▸ One hundred dollars.
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: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:
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(UK, slang) One 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
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A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge owing; an invoice.
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:He received a bill of £9 for the groceries.
- (India, slang) A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, listing the price or charge paid; a receipt.
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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:
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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:
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A set of items presented together.
We've got a brilliant new comedian on the bill tonight.
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:
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(UK, qualifier:Eton College) A list of pupils to be disciplined for breaking school rules.
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:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bills | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
bill of goods · bill of entry · hybrid bill · accommodation bill · heads of the bill · member's bill · heartbeat bill · bill of quantities · billboard · bill of exceptions · exchequer bill · billhead · phony as a three-dollar bill · light bill · billholder · could we get the bill · time bill · dollar bill · bills payable · no-bill · paybill · bill of exchange · housekeeping bill · billposter · T-bill · bill of fare · bill of pains and penalties · bills receivable · commit a bill · billposting · billlike · bill of complaint · billfold · bill strap · bill of sale · butcher's bill · small, unmarked bills · sell someone a bill of goods · bill of materials · double bill · fake as a two-dollar bill · billsticker · bill of sight · bill discounter · e-bill · single as a dollar bill · divorce bill · playbill · timebill · bill of material · revenue bill · bill of particulars · foot the bill · bill of victualling · fill the bill · on one's bill · waybill · billpaying · biller · bill of mortality · bathroom bill · queer as a three dollar bill · watch bill · bill of store · bill of lading · topbill · bill of sufferance · bill of health · scrilla · monthly bill · dishonoured bill · bill of indictment · superbill · victualling bill · bill of attainder · wage bill · bill of rights · Treasury bill · bill of adventure · bill of divorce · could I get the bill · private member's bill · quarter bill · newsbill · Christmas tree bill · triple bill · bill of costs · station bill · fit the bill · true bill · bill of parcels · Eurobill · check bill · duebill · private bill · handbill · bill of credit · billpayer · billsticking
Descendants
বিল · बिल · pili · bili · บิล · bills
Relateds
Synonyms
banknote · broadsheet · flier · bank note · invoice · flyer · measure · bank bill · banker's bill · circular · handbill · government note · account · broadside · greenback · notice · poster · throwaway · Federal Reserve note · posting · card · placard · note
Translations (320)
es nota (official statement) · bn বিল (draft of a law) · pl afisz (advertisement) · th ร่างพระราชบัญญัติ (draft of a law) · ro listă (written inventory) · es cuenta (invoice) · lv faktūra (invoice) · lo ໃບເກັບເງິນ (invoice) · pt promissória (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · tr layiha (draft of a law) · sv lista (official statement) · cmn 法案 (draft of a law) · ms رڠ اوندڠ٢ (draft of a law) · fr facture (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · de Gesetzentwurf (draft of a law) · fr projet de loi (draft of a law) · arz فاتورة (invoice) · sv motion (draft of a law) · et arve (invoice) · tr fatura (invoice) · ru счёт (written inventory) · sq projektligj (draft of a law) · sh ра̀чӯн (invoice) · lt sąskaita (invoice) · ms rang undang-undang (draft of a law) · sh ràčūn (invoice) · is nóta (invoice) · ug لايىھە (draft of a law) · sl račun (invoice) · is frumvarp (draft of a law) · ur بِل (invoice) · hu hirdetmény (advertisement) · it cambiale (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · ro plângere (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · bg сме́тка (written inventory) · bg прое́ктозако́н (draft of a law) · nl plakaat (advertisement) · mk сметка (invoice) · cy mesur (draft of a law) · ka ქვითარი (invoice) · be афі́ша (advertisement) · ru билль (draft of a law) · sh prédlog zakona (draft of a law) · it spettanza (invoice) · ru афи́ша (advertisement) · kk билль (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · ka კანონპროექტი (draft of a law) · cmn 法案 (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · el αφίσα (advertisement) · de Rechnung (invoice) · es cartel (advertisement) · sl faktura (invoice) · pt declaração (written inventory) · sh nacrt zakona (draft of a law) · hu törvényjavaslat (draft of a law) · bg програ́ма (advertisement) · vi dự thảo (draft of a law) · hu plakát (advertisement) · gd bile (draft of a law) · hu bizonyítvány (official statement) · hi विधेयक (draft of a law) · lv likumprojekts (draft of a law) · bg декларация (official statement) · sv proposition (draft of a law) · be раху́нак (invoice) · sv nota (invoice) · lmo fatura (invoice) · kk шот (invoice) · sk účet (invoice) · eo fakturo (invoice) · th บิล (invoice) · mn тооцоо (invoice) · fi lakiesitys (draft of a law) · ar لَائِحَة (draft of a law) · it conto (invoice) · hi बिल (invoice) · fr note (official statement) · el συναλλαγματική (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · hu számla (invoice) · nn lovforslag (draft of a law) · da liste (official statement) · pl projekt ustawy (draft of a law) · fr addition (invoice) · it poster (advertisement) · it manifesto (written inventory) · prs لَایِحَه (draft of a law) · sv program (advertisement) · ky билль (draft of a law) · nl rekening (invoice) · it denuncia (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · he חֶשְׁבּוֹן (invoice) · fr facture (invoice) · ga bille (written inventory) · tg ҳисоб (invoice) · eo kalkulo (invoice) · sh нацрт закона (draft of a law) · eo leĝopropono (draft of a law) · ru законопрое́кт (draft of a law) · fi vekseli (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · cs faktura (invoice) · ru програ́мка (advertisement) · ja 送り状 (invoice) · ga bille (invoice) · nn rekning (invoice) · da lovforslag (draft of a law) · tr kanun layihası (draft of a law) · sq faturë (invoice) · az layihə (draft of a law) · bg факту́ра (invoice) · pt conta (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · ga bille (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · it nota (official statement) · bg уверение (official statement) · fa-ira پوسْتِر (advertisement) · fr acte (official statement) · ar حِسَاب (invoice) · hy հաշիվ (invoice) · mk законски прое́кт (draft of a law) · ro bilet de bancă (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · ko 법안 (draft of a law) · el εγκλητήριο (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · bg свидетелство (official statement) · cmn 法律案 (draft of a law) · da plakat (advertisement) · ro act (official statement) · id rancangan undang-undang (draft of a law) · ga bille (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · cmn 草案 (draft of a law) · th ใบเก็บเงิน (invoice) · el διαφήμιση (advertisement) · uz loyiha (draft of a law) · el τιμολόγιο (invoice) · sv växel (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · tg лоиҳа (draft of a law) · ur بِل (draft of a law) · es compto (disused) (invoice) · fi juliste (advertisement) · fr proposition de loi (draft of a law) · es factura (invoice) · bg удостоверение (official statement) · it polizza (official statement) · el λογαριασμός (invoice) · it dovuto (invoice) · sh prijédlog zakona (draft of a law) · be законапрае́кт (draft of a law) · cs směnka (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · sv affisch (advertisement) · ru распи́ска (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · it disegno di legge (draft of a law) · ug ھېساب (invoice) · sw bili (invoice) · pdt Zadel (invoice) · ota حساب (invoice) · ky счёт (invoice) · et inventar (written inventory) · ja 請求書 (invoice) · ro notă de plată (invoice) · el νομοσχέδιο (draft of a law) · ko 계산서 (invoice) · fa-ira لایِحِه (draft of a law) · be раху́нак-факту́ра (invoice) · uz schyot (invoice) · cs účet (invoice) · sv sedel (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · nl wetsontwerp (draft of a law) · ru счёт-факту́ра (invoice) · hu igazolás (official statement) · da regning (invoice) · ro factură (invoice) · de Faktura (invoice) · de Gesetzesentwurf (draft of a law) · ro propunere de lege (draft of a law) · uk афі́ша (advertisement) · es proyecto de ley (draft of a law) · tl panukalang batas (draft of a law) · fi lakiehdotus (draft of a law) · pt projeto de lei (draft of a law) · pt proposta de lei (draft of a law) · lv rēķins (invoice) · km សេចក្តីព្រាងច្បាប់ (draft of a law) · lv lēse (invoice) · it cartello pubblicitario (advertisement) · kk билль (draft of a law) · sv intyg (official statement) · it fattura (invoice) · lmo cartell publicitari (advertisement) · ja 法律案 (draft of a law) · ja 法案 (draft of a law) · ro placardă (advertisement) · tk hasap (invoice) · uk раху́нок-факту́ра (invoice) · de Gesetzesvorlage (draft of a law) · it certificato (official statement) · ro poster (advertisement) · vi hoá đơn (invoice) · ota پوصوله (written inventory) · be біль (draft of a law) · uk білль (draft of a law) · cmn 帳單 /帐单 (invoice) · tr hesap (invoice) · ca projecte de llei (draft of a law) · fi julistus (official statement) · ko 법률안 (draft of a law) · hu törvénytervezet (draft of a law) · hu váltó (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · tr yasa tasarısı (draft of a law) · it manifesto (advertisement) · bg сме́тка (invoice) · sv plakat (advertisement) · es letra (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · sv lagförslag (draft of a law) · pt anúncio (advertisement) · it locandina (advertisement) · nl wetsvoorstel (draft of a law) · arz حساب (invoice) · sh пре́длог закона (draft of a law) · vi dự luật (draft of a law) · nb faktura (invoice) · ca compte (invoice) · pt conta (invoice) · bn বিল (invoice) · sh прије́длог закона (draft of a law) · ar فَاتُورَة (invoice) · uz hisob (invoice) · el κατηγορητήριο (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · he תָּכְנִיָּה (advertisement) · gsw Rächnig (invoice) · et seaduseelnõu (draft of a law) · my ဘီ (invoice) · sv faktura (invoice) · ur حِساب (invoice) · ru счёт (invoice) · sv anslag (advertisement) · ga bille (draft of a law) · th พระราชบัญญัติ (draft of a law) · fr tract (advertisement) · tr kanun teklifi (draft of a law) · fa-ira حِساب (invoice) · da fortegning (official statement) · az qanun layihəsi (draft of a law) · hu jegyzék (written inventory) · ro afiș (advertisement) · pt fatura (invoice) · tr kanun tasarısı (draft of a law) · sv räkning (invoice) · ota دفتر (written inventory) · oc compte (invoice) · sk faktúra (invoice) · pl faktura (invoice) · hy օրինագիծ (draft of a law) · az hesab (invoice) · ky эсеп (invoice) · el λογαριασμός (written inventory) · it proposta di legge (draft of a law) · hi विधेयक (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · ro inventar (written inventory) · nb plakat (advertisement) · et eelnõu (draft of a law) · es proyecto legal (draft of a law) · lt faktūra (invoice) · es proposición de ley (draft of a law) · nb regning (invoice) · he כְּרָזָה (advertisement) · ko 송장 (invoice) · fa-ira صورَتْحِساب (invoice) · ga bille (advertisement) · ga bille (official statement) · uk раху́нок (invoice) · da seddel (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · bg законопрое́кт (draft of a law) · ps حساب (invoice) · sh факту́ра (invoice) · lmo pòster (advertisement) · it inventario (written inventory) · yue 帳單 /帐单 (invoice) · pt declaração (official statement) · bg афи́ш (advertisement) · hi हिसाब (invoice) · is reikningur (invoice) · sw mswada (draft of a law) · ur بِیجَک (invoice) · km វិក្កយបត្រ (invoice) · tt хисап (invoice) · fi lasku (invoice) · fi luettelo (written inventory) · kk есеп (invoice) · ru ве́ксель (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · uk законопрое́кт (draft of a law) · de Plakat (advertisement) · fr greffe (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · ceb balaoron (draft of a law) · lmo manifest (advertisement) · ja 料金 勘定 (invoice) · ru заявле́ние (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · hu -levél (written inventory) · fi kanne (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · es declaración (written inventory) · ca factura (invoice) · ur لائِحَہ (draft of a law) · kmr hesab (invoice) · sh faktúra (invoice) · hu vádirat (law: declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the complainant has suffered from the defendant) · ps بل (invoice) · mk нацрт-закон (draft of a law) · nb lovforslag (draft of a law) · it stesura (official statement) · sv förteckning (official statement) · ceb balaodnon (draft of a law) · nl factuur (invoice) · oc factura (invoice) · bn হিসাব (invoice) · hu -jegy (written inventory) · ro notă (official statement) · fa-ira پِلاکارْد (advertisement) · ro proiect de lege (draft of a law) · hi बीजक (invoice) · it bolletta (invoice) · mk меница (bill of exchange — see also bill of exchange) · hi बिल (draft of a law) · pl rachunek (invoice)