billet

1 of 3

noun (1)

bil·let ˈbi-lət

Synonyms of billet next

archaic : a brief letter : note

: an official order directing that a member of a military force be provided with board and lodging (as in a private home)

: quarters assigned by or as if by a billet

: position, job

a lucrative billet

billet

2 of 3

verb

billeted; billeting; billets

transitive verb

: to assign lodging to (someone, such as a soldier) by or as if by a billet

: to serve with a billet

billet a householder

billet

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a chunky piece of wood (as for firewood)

obsolete : cudgel

: a bar of metal

: a piece of semifinished iron or steel nearly square in section made by rolling an ingot or bloom

: a section of nonferrous metal ingot hot-worked by forging, rolling, or extrusion

: a nonferrous casting suitable for rolling or extrusion

Examples of billet in a Sentence

Noun (1) found a billet at one of the leading brokerage houses in New York Verb every colonial household was expected to billet a British soldier Noun (2) a stack of gold billets in the vault

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ivan decided to ride it out, but the lack of good billets made life boring and difficult. —

Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024 The Russian military had promised him better, a better billet, a better life and some kind of purpose. —

Sarah A. Topol, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2024

Verb

The mercenaries billeted there scrawled graffiti across the frescoes. —

Nick Bowlin, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024 For nine seasons over 10 years, Ward and her husband, Butch, lodged, fed, inspired, consoled, polished and did laundry for 15 young men who billeted in their Ashwaubenon home for a year or two and then advanced in hockey. —

Dave Kallmann, Journal Sentinel, 2 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for billet

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'billet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bylet, from Anglo-French billette, diminutive of bille bill

Noun (2)

Middle English bylet, from Anglo-French billete, diminutive of bille log, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish bile landmark tree

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of billet was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Billet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billet. Accessed 3 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

billet

1 of 3 noun

bil·let ˈbil-ət

: an official order that a soldier be put up in a private home

: quarters assigned by or as if by a billet

: job sense 3, position

billet

2 of 3 verb

: to assign lodging to : quarter

billet

3 of 3 noun

: a chunky piece of wood (as for firewood)

: a bar of metal

especially : one of iron or steel

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bylet "brief note," from early French billette, literally, "little document," derived from Latin billa "document"

Noun

Middle English bylet "chunk of wood," from early French billete, literally, "little log"; of Celtic origin

Last Updated: 23 Oct 2024 - Updated example sentences

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billet

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Synonyms

Examples of billet in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near billet

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition