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billy

billy

2 7.0
A metal pot used to boil water over a fire
  • noun
  • /ˈbɪli/
  • Australian
translation icon : cacerola
  • She carefully placed the billy on the campfire to boil water for cooking.
  • billy tin
  • billy boiled
  • water in the billy

Examples

  • She was bringing their billy tin of water from the lake.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • In the wilderness, the billy became an essential tool for making hot drinks.

  • The water in the billy tin was boiling.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled

  • It was just unwrapping the cheese and getting out the bread and peanut butter, though Pat and Kip always had to do their woodsy act and boil up a billy tin for their own tea.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The campers filled their billy with water to make tea over the fire.

Synonyms

kettle
vsbilly
34 1.0

A container with a handle and spout for boiling water

is used mainly outdoors over a campfire rather than indoors for general use
teakettle
vsbilly
5 1.4

A pot with a handle and spout for boiling water to make tea

is suited for outdoor boiling water rather than specifically making tea
boiler
vsbilly
  • UK
4 1.9

A large metal pot with a lid for boiling or stewing food

is for boiling water outdoors rather than for stewing or cooking food
billycan
vsbilly
  • Australian
8.7

A lightweight metal pot with a handle for boiling water over a campfire

focuses mainly on boiling water outdoors rather than cooking meals

Idioms

9.9

Do something while not caring about rules, risks, or what others think

Compounds

5 6.7

A short thick stick police carry to hit or defend themselves

3 1.0

An adult male farm animal with horns and a beard

A famous American outlaw from the Old West said to have killed 21 men

billy buttons
  • Australian
9.9

A small plant with round bright yellow flower heads used in bouquets

How Big

cauldron
27 4.8
kettle
34 1.0
billy
  • Australian
2 7.0
cup
846 1.0

Surface Forms

billy singular
billies plural

Etymology

A helpful way to remember billy for a metal pot is to think of billycan, likely from 'boil' or 'boiling can', so it is a can used for boiling water over a fire. That's why a billy is a small pot used outdoors.