bill

I. noun Etymology: Middle English bile, from Old English; akin to Old English bill Date: before 12th century 1. the jaws of a bird together with their horny covering 2. a mouthpart (as the beak of a turtle) that resembles a bird's bill 3. the point of an anchor fluke — see anchor illustration 4. the visor of a cap or hood II. intransitive verb Date: 1584 1. to touch and rub bill to bill 2. to caress affectionately <

billing and cooing

> III. noun Etymology: Middle English bil, from Old English bill sword; akin to Old High German bill pickax Date: 14th century 1. a weapon in use up to the 18th century that consists of a long staff ending in a hook-shaped blade 2. billhook IV. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French bille, from Medieval Latin billa, perhaps alteration of bulla, papal seal, bull — more at bull Date: 14th century 1. an itemized list or a statement of particulars (as a list of materials or of members of a ship's crew) 2. a written document or note 3. obsolete a formal petition 4. a. an itemized account of the separate cost of goods sold, services performed, or work done ; invoice b. an amount expended or owed c. a statement of charges for food or drink ; check 5. a. a written or printed advertisement posted or otherwise distributed to announce an event of interest to the public; especially an announcement of a theatrical entertainment b. a programmed presentation (as a motion picture, play, or concert) 6. a draft of a law presented to a legislature for enactment; also the law itself <

the GI bill

> 7. a declaration in writing stating a wrong a complainant has suffered from a defendant or stating a breach of law by some person <

a bill of complaint

> 8. a. a piece of paper money b. an individual or commercial note <

bills receivable

> c. slang one hundred dollars V. transitive verb Date: 14th century 1. a. to enter in an accounting system ; prepare a bill of (charges) b. to submit a bill of charges to c. to enter (as freight) in a waybill d. to issue a bill of lading to or for 2. to announce (as a performance) especially by posters or placards 3. advertise, promote <

the book is billed as a “report” — P. G. Altbach

> • billable adjective