What is the difference between beak and bill?
beak | bill | Synonyms |
Anatomical uses .
# A rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming and for eating food.
# A similar structure forming the jaws of an octopus, turtle, etc.
# The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.
# The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.
# The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.
# (botany) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.
Figurative uses .
# Anything projecting or ending in a point like a beak, such as a promontory of land.
# (architecture) A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.
# (farriery) A toe clip.
# (nautical) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.
# (nautical) A beam, shod or at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.
Colloquial uses .
# (slang) The human nose, especially one that is large and pointed.
# (slang, British) A justice of the peace, magistrate, headmaster or other person of authority.
#* '>citation
#* '>citation
Any of various bladed or pointed hand weapons, originally designating an Anglo-Saxon sword, and later a weapon of infantry, especially in the 14th and 15th centuries, commonly consisting of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, with a short pike at the back and another at the top, attached to the end of a long staff.
* (rfdate), (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
* 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons .
A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle, used in pruning, etc.; a billhook.
Somebody armed with a bill; a billman.
A pickaxe, or mattock.
(nautical) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.
The beak of a bird, especially when small or flattish; sometimes also used with reference to a turtle, platypus, or other animal.
* 1595', The woosel cock so black of hue, With orange-tawny '''bill , The throstle with his note so true, The wren with little quill... — William Shakespeare, ''A Midsummer Night's Dream , Act III, Scene I, line 125.
* '>citation
A beak-like projection, especially a promontory.
(obsolete) To peck.
To stroke bill against bill, with reference to doves; to caress in fondness.
* 1599 , As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb and the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling.
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. )
A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.
* 1600', Why, I'll exhibit a '''bill in the parliament for the putting down of men. — William Shakespeare, ''The Merry Wives of Windsor , Act II, Scene I, line 28.
* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-12-14
, author=Simon Jenkins, authorlink=Simon Jenkins
, title=We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys
, volume=188, issue=2, page=23
, date=2012-12-21
, magazine=
(obsolete, legal) 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.
(US) A piece of paper money; a banknote.
* 1830', Anon, ''The Galaxy of Wit: Or, Laughing Philosopher, Being a Collection of Choice Anecdotes, Many of Which Originated in or about "The Literary Emporium"'' — He gave the change for a three dollar '''bill'''. Upon examination, the ' bill proved to be counterfeit.
A written note of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; an invoice.
* 1607', My lord, here is my '''bill . — William Shakespeare, ''Timon of Athens , Act III, Scene IV, line 85.
A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods; a placard; a poster; a handbill.
* 1595', In the meantime I will draw a '''bill of properties, such as our play wants. — William Shakespeare, ''A Midsummer Night's Dream , Act I, Scene II, line 104.
* She put up the bill in her parlor window. — Dickens.
A writing binding 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.
* 1600 , Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a gentleman born, Master Parson; who writes himself Armigero, in any bill, warrant, quittance, or obligation, Armigero. — William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor , Act I, Scene I, line 8.
Bill is a synonym of beak.
In nautical terms the difference between beak and bill
is that beak is a beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead while bill is the extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.In transitive terms the difference between beak and bill
is that beak is seize with the beak while bill is to charge; to send a bill to.As a proper noun Bill is
a diminutive of the male given name William.beak
English
Noun
(en noun)- (Carew)
- He's up before the beak again tomorrow.
- I clapp'd my peepers full of tears, and so the old beak set me free (I began to weep, and the judge set me free)
Synonyms
* (sense, rigid structure projecting from a bird's face) bill * (human nose) honker, schnozzleDerived terms
* beakish * wet one's beakAnagrams
*References
*bill
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) .Noun
(en noun)- France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows and bills .
- In the British Museum there is an entry of a warrant, granted to Nicholas Spicer, authorising him to impress smiths for making two thousand Welch bills or glaives.
- (Strype)
Synonyms
* (weapon) polearm * (cutting instrument) billhook, hand bill, hedge bill * (somebody armed with a bill) billmanDerived terms
* brown-billEtymology 2
(etyl) (m), of unknown origin.Noun
(en noun)Synonyms
* (beak of a bird) beak, neb, nib, peckerDerived terms
* duckbillVerb
(en verb)Etymology 3
(etyl) . Compare bull.Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=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.}}