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What is the difference between beak and bill?

beak | bill | Synonyms |

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)
  • 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.
  • (Carew)
  • # (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.
  • 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)
  • #* '>citation
  • #* '>citation
  • Synonyms

    * (sense, rigid structure projecting from a bird's face) bill * (human nose) honker, schnozzle

    Derived terms

    * beakish * wet one's beak

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • strike with the beak.
  • seize with the beak.
  • Anagrams

    *

    References

    *

    bill

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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)
  • France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows and bills .
  • * 1786 , Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons .
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • (Strype)
  • A pickaxe, or mattock.
  • (nautical) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.
  • Synonyms
    * (weapon) polearm * (cutting instrument) billhook, hand bill, hedge bill * (somebody armed with a bill) billman
    Derived terms
    * brown-bill

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To dig, chop, etc., with a bill.
  • Etymology 2

    (etyl) (m), of unknown origin.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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.
  • Synonyms
    * (beak of a bird) beak, neb, nib, pecker
    Derived terms
    * duckbill

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (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.
  • Etymology 3

    (etyl) . Compare bull.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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= 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.}}
  • (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.
  • Synonyms
    * (account of goods) account, invoice * (written or printed advertisement posted or otherwise distributed) broadsheet, broadside, card,circular, flier, flyer, handbill, poster, posting, placard, notice, throwaway * (draft of a law) measure * (writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a future day) bank bill, banker's bill, bank note, banknote, Federal Reserve note, government note, greenback, note
    Derived terms
    * bill of adventure * bill of costs * bill of credit * bill of divorce * bill of entry * bill of exceptions * bill of exchange * bill of fare * bill of goods * bill of health * bill of indictment * bill of lading * bill of mortality * bill of pains and penalties * bill of parcels * bill of particulars * bill of rights * bill of sale * bill of sight * bill of store * bill of sufferance * bills payable * bills receivable * * Treasury bill * T-bill * true bill
    See also
    * (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To advertise by a bill or public notice.
  • To charge; to send a bill to.
  • Synonyms
    * (to advertise by a bill) placard * (to charge) charge

    Etymology 4

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The bell, or boom, of the bittern.
  • * Wordsworth
  • The bittern's hollow bill was heard.