billingsgate

1 9.9

Very rude and insulting language used to hurt people

noun
/ˈbɪlɪŋzɡeɪt/

Offensive

: lenguaje soez

And now, our eight little lasses from old Brittania... the Piccadilly Pixies... starring the one, the only... Bluebird of Billingsgate!

Examples

Her billingsgate rhetoric is stereotypically associated with vendors who hawk their wares in public spaces.

Academic text (2003)
His constant use of billingsgate made it hard for others to take him seriously.
Better to first know what you're talking about before you post and subject us all to your billingsgate.

Blog text (30)
From Kensington to Billingsgate

Mary Poppins (1964)
The argument quickly deteriorated into billingsgate, with both sides exchanging insults.
The comic's routine was filled with billingsgate, drawing roars of laughter from the audience.

Synonyms

abuse

vsbillingsgate

Offensive

155 3.4

Rude or insulting words said to hurt someone

is stronger and focuses on vulgar or obscene language rather than mere insults

scurrility

vsbillingsgate

Offensive

9.9

Very rude words or actions that hurt people

is limited to vulgar language and excludes actions

names

vsbillingsgate

Offensive

5.6

Words someone says to hurt another person

is broader and covers coarse language beyond direct insults

Antonyms

civility

71 4.2

Polite and respectful words and actions toward other people

How Offensive

obscenity

Offensive

50 7.4

billingsgate

Offensive

1 9.9

profanity

Offensive

43 6.0

vulgarism

Offensive

1 9.2

Surface Forms

billingsgate singular

billingsgates plural

Etymology

Billingsgate comes from a famous old London fish market called Billingsgate, where fish sellers shouted loudly and often used very rude words. So billingsgate now means 'coarse or abusive language'.