What is "bill"

Bill \Bill\, n. [OE. bile, bille, AS. bile beak of a bird, proboscis; cf. Ir. & Gael. bil, bile, mouth, lip, bird's bill. Cf. Bill a weapon.] A beak, as of a bird, or sometimes of a turtle or other animal.
--Milton.

Bill \Bill\, v. t. To work upon ( as to dig, hoe, hack, or chop anything) with a bill.

Bill \Bill\, n. The bell, or boom, of the bittern

The bittern's hollow bill was heard.
--Wordsworth.

Bill \Bill\, n. [OE. bil, AS. bill, bil; akin to OS. bil sword, OHG. bill pickax, G. bille. Cf. Bill bea?.]

1. A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle; -- used in pruning, etc.; a billhook. When short, called a hand bill, when long, a hedge bill.

2. A weapon of infantry, in the 14th and 15th centuries. A common form of bill consisted of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped blade, having a short pike at the back and another at the top, and attached to the end of a long staff.

   France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows end bills.
   --Macaulay.

3. One who wields a bill; a billman.
   --Strype.

4. A pickax, or mattock. [Obs.]

5. (Naut.) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke.

Bill \Bill\, v. t.

1. To advertise by a bill or public notice.

2. To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods.

Bill \Bill\, n. [OE. bill, bille, fr. LL. billa (or OF. bille), for L. bulla anything rounded, LL., seal, stamp, letter, edict, roll; cf. F. bille a ball, prob. fr. Ger.; cf. MHG. bickel, D. bikkel, dice. Cf. Bull papal edict, Billet a paper.]

1. (Law) 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.

2. 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. [Eng.]

   Note: In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of hand, or a promissory note.

3. A form or draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law.

4. 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.

   She put up the bill in her parlor window.
   --Dickens.

5. An account of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with the price or charge; a statement of a creditor's claim, in gross or by items; as, a grocer's bill.

6. Any paper, containing a statement of particulars; as, a bill of charges or expenditures; a weekly bill of mortality; a bill of fare, etc. Bill of adventure. See under Adventure. Bill of costs, a statement of the items which form the total amount of the costs of a party to a suit or action. Bill of credit.

   1. Within the constitution of the United States, a paper issued by a State, on the mere faith and credit of the State, and designed to circulate as money. No State shall ``emit bills of credit.''
      --U. S. Const.
      --Peters.
      --Wharton.
      --Bouvier

   2. Among merchants, a letter sent by an agent or other person to a merchant, desiring him to give credit to the bearer for goods or money.

      Bill of divorce, in the Jewish law, a writing given by the husband to the wife, by which the marriage relation was dissolved.
      --Jer. iii. 8.

      Bill of entry, a written account of goods entered at the customhouse, whether imported or intended for exportation.

      Bill of exceptions. See under Exception.

      Bill of exchange (Com.), a written order or request from one person or house to another, desiring the latter to pay to some person designated a certain sum of money therein generally is, and, to be negotiable, must be, made payable to order or to bearer. So also the order generally expresses a specified time of payment, and that it is drawn for value. The person who draws the bill is called the drawer, the person on whom it is drawn is, before acceptance, called the drawee, -- after acceptance, the acceptor; the person to whom the money is directed to be paid is called the payee. The person making the order may himself be the payee. The bill itself is frequently called a draft. See Exchange.
      --Chitty.

      Bill of fare, a written or printed enumeration of the dishes served at a public table, or of the dishes (with prices annexed) which may be ordered at a restaurant, etc.

      Bill of health, a certificate from the proper authorities as to the state of health of a ship's company at the time of her leaving port.

      Bill of indictment, a written accusation lawfully presented to a grand jury. If the jury consider the evidence sufficient to support the accusation, they indorse it ``A true bill,'' otherwise they write upon it ``Not a true bill,'' or ``Not found,'' or ``Ignoramus'', or ``Ignored.''

      Bill of lading, a written account of goods shipped by any person, signed by the agent of the owner of the vessel, or by its master, acknowledging the receipt of the goods, and promising to deliver them safe at the place directed, dangers of the sea excepted. It is usual for the master to sign two, three, or four copies of the bill; one of which he keeps in possession, one is kept by the shipper, and one is sent to the consignee of the goods.

      Bill of mortality, an official statement of the number of deaths in a place or district within a given time; also, a district required to be covered by such statement; as, a place within the bills of mortality of London.

      Bill of pains and penalties, a special act of a legislature which inflicts a punishment less than death upon persons supposed to be guilty of treason or felony, without any conviction in the ordinary course of judicial proceedings.
      --Bouvier.
      --Wharton.

      Bill of parcels, an account given by the seller to the buyer of the several articles purchased, with the price of each.

      Bill of particulars (Law), a detailed statement of the items of a plaintiff's demand in an action, or of the defendant's set-off.

      Bill of rights, a summary of rights and privileges claimed by a people. Such was the declaration presented by the Lords and Commons of England to the Prince and Princess of Orange in 1688, and enacted in Parliament after they became king and queen. In America, a bill or declaration of rights is prefixed to most of the constitutions of the several States.

      Bill of sale, a formal instrument for the conveyance or transfer of goods and chattels.

      Bill of sight, a form of entry at the customhouse, by which goods, respecting which the importer is not possessed of full information, may be provisionally landed for examination.

      Bill of store, a license granted at the customhouse to merchants, to carry such stores and provisions as are necessary for a voyage, custom free.
      --Wharton.

      Bills payable (pl.), the outstanding unpaid notes or acceptances made and issued by an individual or firm.

      Bills receivable (pl.), the unpaid promissory notes or acceptances held by an individual or firm.
      --McElrath.

      A true bill, a bill of indictment sanctioned by a grand jury.

Bill \Bill\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billed; p. pr. & vb. n. Billing.]

1. To strike; to peck. [Obs.]

2. To join bills, as doves; to caress in fondness. ``As pigeons bill.''
   --Shak.

   To bill and coo, to interchange caresses; -- said of doves; also of demonstrative lovers.
   --Thackeray.

"written statement," mid-14c., from Anglo-French bille, Anglo-Latin billa "list," from Medieval Latin bulla "decree, seal, sealed document," in classical Latin "bubble, boss, stud, amulet for the neck" (hence "seal;" see bull (n.2)). Sense of "account, invoice" first recorded c.1400; that of "order to pay" (technically bill of exchange) is from 1570s; that of "paper money" is from 1660s. Meaning "draft of an act of Parliament" is from 1510s.

"bird's beak," Old English bill "bill, bird's beak," related to bill, a poetic word for a kind of sword (especially one with a hooked blade), from a common Germanic word for cutting or chopping weapons (compare Old High German bihal, Old Norse bilda "hatchet," Old Saxon bil "sword"), from PIE root *bheie- "to cut, to strike" (cognates: Armenian bir "cudgel," Greek phitos "block of wood," Old Church Slavonic biti "to strike," Old Irish biail "ax"). Used also in Middle English of beak-like projections of land (such as Portland Bill).

"to send someone a bill of charge," 1864, from bill (n.1). Related: Billed; billing.

ancient weapon, Old English bill "sword (especially one with a hooked blade), chopping tool," common Germanic (compare Old Saxon bil "sword," Middle Dutch bile, Dutch bijl, Old High German bihal, German Beil, Old Norse bilda "hatchet." See bill (n.2).

Etymology 1 n. 1 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. 2 A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a handle, used in pruning, etc.; a billhook. 3 Somebody armed with a bill; a billman. 4 A pickaxe, or mattock. 5 (context nautical English) The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond the fluke. vb. (context transitive English) To dig, chop, etc., with a bill. Etymology 2

n. 1 The beak of a bird, especially when small or flattish; sometimes also used with reference to a turtle, platypus, or other animal. 2 A beak-like projection, especially a promontory. vb. 1 (context obsolete English) To peck. 2 To stroke bill against bill, with reference to doves; to caress in fondness. Etymology 3

n. 1 A written list or inventory. (''Now obsolete except in specific senses or set phrases; bill of lading, bill of goods, etc.'') 2 A document, originally sealed; a formal statement or official memorandum. (''Now obsolete except with certain qualifying words; bill of health, bill of sale etc.'') 3 A draft of a law, presented to a legislature for enactment; a proposed or projected law. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To advertise by a bill or public notice. 2 (context transitive English) To charge; to send a bill to. Etymology 4

n. The bell, or boom, of the bittern.

1. v. demand payment; "Will I get charged for this service?"; "We were billed for 4 nights in the hotel, although we stayed only 3 nights" [syn: charge]

2. advertise especially by posters or placards; "He was billed as the greatest tenor since Caruso"

3. publicize or announce by placards [syn: placard]

1. n. a statute in draft before it becomes law; "they held a public hearing on the bill" [syn: measure]

2. an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered; "he paid his bill and left"; "send me an account of what I owe" [syn: account, invoice]

3. a piece of paper money (especially one issued by a central bank); "he peeled off five one-thousand-zloty notes" [syn: note, government note, bank bill, banker's bill, bank note, banknote, Federal Reserve note, greenback]

4. the entertainment offered at a public presentation

5. a list of particulars (as a playbill or bill of fare)

6. an advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet) intended for wide distribution; "he mailed the circular to all subscribers" [syn: circular, handbill, broadside, broadsheet, flier, flyer, throwaway]

7. horny projecting mouth of a bird [syn: beak, neb, nib, pecker]

8. a sign posted in a public place as an advertisement; "a poster advertised the coming attractions" [syn: poster, posting, placard, notice, card]

9. a long-handled saw with a curved blade; "he used a bill to prune branches off of the tree" [syn: billhook]

10. a brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes; "he pulled down the bill of his cap and trudged ahead" [syn: peak, eyeshade, visor, vizor]

Bill may refer to:

The bill is a polearm weapon used by infantry in medieval Europe. The bill is similar in size, function and appearance to the halberd, differing mainly in the hooked blade form. Other terms for the bill include English bill, bill hook or bill- guisarme.

A bill is proposed legislation under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an Act or a statute.

Bill is the first full-length album by Tripping Daisy. It was released in 1992 on the Dragon Street label, and then re-released on July 22, 1993 on Island Records. On the re-release, the track "Green Tambourine" was removed, and the two unlisted tracks were appended to the final track.

Tripping Daisy had a sound of their own within the grunge-pop genre, characterized by bursts of punk energy, bouncy bass riffs, and short break-downs of Pixies-ish picking, and incorporating different aspects of psychedelia. Tim DeLaughter's vocals are extremely processed throughout the album.

Bill is a 1981 CBS TV movie starring Mickey Rooney and Dennis Quaid. The film is based on the life of Bill Sackter. A sequel, Bill: On His Own, was released in 1983.

Bill (1973) is a compilation album of previously released material by Bill Cosby. All the routines are edited down compared to their original appearances on previous albums, some slightly, some considerably.

"Bill" is a song heard in Act II of Kern and Hammerstein's classic 1927 musical Show Boat. The song was written by Kern and P.G. Wodehouse for their 1917 musical Oh, Lady! Lady!! for Vivienne Segal to perform, but withdrawn because it was considered too melancholy for that show. However, when Kern and Hammerstein were at work on the serious and somewhat tragic Show Boat, they decided that the song would be perfect for a nightclub scene in the show. Hammerstein revised Wodehouse's original lyrics somewhat (though he would always give full credit to Wodehouse for the song and take none for himself), and the song was given to real-life nightclub singer Helen Morgan, who portrayed the mulatto Julie in Show Boat, to sing.

The song is sung only once in the show and is highly emotional, with the singer supposedly on the verge of tears. It is sung in an audition scene in Act II. At the Trocadero, a local Chicago night club, Julie LaVerne, the former leading lady of the show boat, is the featured singer. Julie, who is of mixed blood, has been permanently abandoned by her white husband, Steve Baker, years after the two were forced to leave the show boat because of their interracial (and therefore illegal) marriage. Despondent, Julie has taken to drink and is quickly becoming an alcoholic. At the urging of Jim Green, the nightclub manager, Julie rehearses the song "Bill", which is a woman's confession of deep love for a less-than-perfect man named Bill, and it is clear that the emotion that Julie puts into the song comes from the fact that she is really thinking about her husband as she sings.

"Bill" became one of Helen Morgan's signature songs, and onstage she sang it in her trademark style sitting atop a piano. Although the song is sung only once in Show Boat and never reprised, it has become one of the musical's most famous.

On film, Helen Morgan sang "Bill" both in the prologue to the 1929 part-talkie film version of Show Boat and in the classic 1936 film version. Lena Horne was filmed singing it for the Jerome Kern biopic Till the Clouds Roll By, but the scene was eventually cut, and Ava Gardner, using the dubbed-in voice of Annette Warren, sang it in the 1951 Technicolor remake of Show Boat. Gardner's own voice can be heard on the soundtrack record.

Shirley Bassey recorded the song for the 1959 Studio Cast Album of " Show Boat".

The song was a regular part of Dorothy Lamour's repertoire. Lamour frequently sang it on radio and in concert and recorded it in 1958.

Rosimar Amâncio (born 2 July 1984), better known as Bill, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Ceará, as a striker.

Bill is a surname, and may refer to:

• Alfred H. Bill (1879-1964), American writer
• Charles Bill (1843–1915), British politician
• Edward Lyman Bill (1862-1916), founder and editor of the magazine Talking Machine World
• Max Bill (1908–1994), Swiss architect, artist and designer
• William Bill (c. 1505–1561), English churchman and academic

Bill is a 2015 British family adventure comedy film from the principal performers behind children's TV series Horrible Histories and Yonderland. It was produced by Punk Cinema, Cowboy Films and BBC Films and was released in the UK on 18 September 2015 by Vertigo Films. The film is a fictional take on the young William Shakespeare's search for fame and fortune, as written by Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond and directed by Richard Bracewell who co-produced with Tony Bracewell, Alasdair Flind and Charles Steel. It features the six lead performers playing several different roles each including Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Ben Willbond, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick and Laurence Rickard. Bill has received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed $968,534 worldwide. The film also received nominations for the Evening Standard British Film Award for Award for Comedy and the Into Film Award for Family Film of the Year.