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billet - What does it mean?

Definition of 'billet'

English

(wikipedia)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) bylet, from (etyl) .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • A short informal letter.
  • *
    • However, when his cool reflections returned, he plainly perceived that his case was neither mended nor altered by Sophia's billet
  • A written order to quarter soldiers.

    • Etymology 2

    (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A place where a soldier is assigned to lodge.
  • * |chapter=19
    • |title= The Mirror and the Lamp |passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets .}}
  • * 1997 : Chris Horrocks, Introducing Foucault , page 9 (Totem Books, Icon Books; ISBN 1840460865)
    • 17 June 1940': Prime Minister Pétain requests armistice. Germans use the Foucaults’ holiday home as officers’ ' billet . Foucault steals firewood for school from collaborationist militia. Foucault does well at school, but messes up his summer exams in 1940.
  • An allocated space or berth in a boat or ship.
  • *
    • |title=(The Celebrity)|chapter=10 |passage=The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.}}

    Verb

  • To lodge soldiers, usually by order.
  • * (Washington Irving) (1783-1859)
    • Billeted in so antiquated a mansion.
  • To lodge, or be quartered, in a private house.
  • (label) To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge.

    • Etymology 3

    (etyl) billette, from ).

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • metallurgy a semi-finished length of metal
  • a short piece of wood, especially one used as firewood
  • * Shakespeare
    • They shall beat out my brains with billets .
  • (heraldiccharge) A rectangle used as a charge on an escutcheon
  • (architecture) An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round.
  • (saddlery) A strap which enters a buckle.
  • A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap.
    • (Knight)

    Similar to 'billet'

    built, bullet, bleat, bluet, bloat, ballot, ballet, blowout, bailout, bliaut, bilat, billot, blewit, belout, buolt, balut, balot