[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/billy/)

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# billy

noun (a billy, billies)

«billy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (Australia, New Zealand) A metal can with a lid and handle, used to boil water or make tea over a campfire; also a billycan. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#m1)
2. A billy goat: a male goat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#m2)
3. (US) A billy club: a short wooden stick carried by police. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#m3)
4. Short for the name William (Billy). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#m4)

### In the lessons

Australian songs and stories: "Waltzing Matilda" has a swagman waiting while his billy boils. Farm stories: billy goats. Fairy tales: The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Phrases: boil the billy, billy tea, billy goat.

### Examples

- We boiled the billy and made tea at the camp. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#x1)
- The billy goat butted the fence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#x2)
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff crossed the bridge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#x3)
- The swagman waited till his billy boiled. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#x4)
- Billy is my best friend's name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#x5)
- A female goat is a nanny goat; a male is a billy goat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/#x6)

### Note

Male goat = billy, female = nanny, young = kid. With a capital B it is a name. "Silly billy" is a gentle, playful way to call someone silly.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «billy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/billy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«billy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/billy.html) on Mova free.