bill

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a brim that projects to the front to shade the eyes

   They pulled down the bill of their cap and trudged ahead.

2. 2
   noun

   a long-handled saw with a curved blade

   The gardener used a bill to prune branches off of the tree.

3. 3
   noun

   an itemized statement of money owed for goods shipped or services rendered

   I paid my bill at the restaurant.

4. 4
   noun

   a statute in draft before it becomes law

   they held a public hearing on the bill

5. 5
   verb

   to advertise especially by posters or placards

   They were billed as the greatest tenor since Caruso.

6. 6
   verb

   to publicize or announce by placards

   We need to bill this show all over town.

7. 7
   verb

   to demand payment

   They billed us for their services.

8. 8
   noun

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

   Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I beg to introduce a bill entitled[…]

Etymology

From Middle English bill, bille, bil, from Old English bil, bill (“a hooked point; curved weapon; two-edged sword”), from Proto-Germanic *bilją (“axe; sword; blade”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyH- (“to strike; beat”). Cognate with West Frisian bile (“axe”), Dutch bijl (“axe”), German Bille (“axe”).