noun
Meaning 1
A short informal letter.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
billet
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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General-American, UK: /ˈbɪlɪt/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -ɪlɪt
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CMU ARPABET: B IH1 L AH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
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CMU ARPABET 2: B IH1 L IH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
A written order to quarter soldiers.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
A sealed ticket for a draw or lottery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 4
A place where a soldier is assigned to lodge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
Temporary lodgings in a private residence, such as is organised for members of a visiting sports team.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
An allocated space or berth in a boat or ship.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
Berth; position.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
A semi-finished length of metal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: engineering, metallurgy, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
A short piece of wood, especially one used as firewood.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
A short cutting of sugar cane produced by a harvester or used for planting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
A rectangle used as a charge on an escutcheon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: government, heraldry, hobbies, lifestyle, monarchy, nobility, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 12
An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood, either square or round.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: architecture
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 13
A strap that enters a buckle.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 14
A loop that receives the end of a buckled strap.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 15
Alternative form of billard (“coalfish”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 16
To lodge soldiers, or guests, usually by order.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 17
To lodge, or be quartered, in a private house.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 18
To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 19
a job in an organization
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he occupied a post in the treasury
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: position, post, berth, office, spot, place, situation
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: occupation, business, job, line of work, line
Narrower terms: academicianship, accountantship, admiralty, ambassadorship, apostleship, apprenticeship, associateship, attorneyship, bailiffship, baronetage, bishopry, episcopate, cadetship, caliphate, captainship, captaincy, cardinalship, chairmanship, chancellorship, chaplaincy, chaplainship, chieftaincy, chieftainship, clerkship, commandership, commandery, comptrollership, consulship, controllership, councillorship, councilorship, counselorship, counsellorship, curacy, curatorship, custodianship, deanship, deanery, directorship, discipleship, editorship, eldership, emirate, fatherhood, foremanship, generalship, generalcy, governorship, headship, hot seat, incumbency, inspectorship, instructorship, internship, judgeship, judicature, khanate, lectureship, legation, legateship, legislatorship, librarianship, lieutenancy, magistracy, magistrature, managership, manhood, marshalship, mastership, mayoralty, messiahship, moderatorship, overlordship, pastorship, pastorate, peasanthood, plum, praetorship, precentorship, preceptorship, prefecture, prelacy, prelature, premiership, presidency, presidentship, primateship, principalship, priorship, proconsulship, proconsulate, proctorship, professorship, chair, protectorship, public office, rabbinate, receivership, rectorship, rectorate, regency, residency, rulership, sainthood, secretaryship, seigniory, seigneury, feudal lordship, senatorship, sinecure, solicitorship, speakership, stewardship, studentship, teachership, thaneship, throne, treasurership, tribuneship, trusteeship, vice-presidency, viceroyship, viziership, wardenship, wardership, womanhood
noun
Meaning 20
lodging for military personnel (especially in a private home)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: housing, lodging, living accommodations
noun
Meaning 21
a short personal letter
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- drop me a line when you get there
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: note, short letter, line
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: personal letter
Narrower terms: excuse
verb
Meaning 22
provide housing for (military personnel)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: quarter, canton
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lodge, accommodate
History
Etymology
From Middle English bylet, from Anglo-Norman billette (“list, schedule”), from bille + -ette, from Latin bulla (“document”).
From Middle French billette (“schedule”), from bullette, diminutive form of bulle (“document”), from Medieval Latin bulla, hence cognate with etymology 1 above.
From Middle English billet, bylet, belet, billette, from Old French billette, from bille (“log, tree trunk”), from Vulgar Latin *bilia, probably of Gaulish origin (compare Old Irish bile (“tree”)).
Across languages
Translations
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: kirjelappu — short informal letter
- Greek: σημείωμα (simeíoma) — short informal letter
- Latin: libellus — short informal letter
- Macedonian: бе́лешка (béleška) — short informal letter
- Macedonian: за́писка (zápiska) — short informal letter
- Russian: запи́ска (zapíska) — short informal letter
- Finnish: majoitusmääräys — written order
- Bulgarian: сли́тък (slítǎk) — semi-finished length of metal
- Finnish: tanko — semi-finished length of metal
- Russian: сли́ток (slítok) — semi-finished length of metal
- Russian: брусо́к (brusók) — semi-finished length of metal
- Bulgarian: цепеница (cepenica) — short piece of firewood
- Finnish: pilke — short piece of firewood
- Finnish: halko — short piece of firewood
- Galician: acha — short piece of firewood
- Galician: cavaco — short piece of firewood
- Galician: racho — short piece of firewood
- Galician: canipa — short piece of firewood
- Ingrian: halko — short piece of firewood
- Macedonian: цепе́ница (cepénica) — short piece of firewood
- Māori: tūporo — short piece of firewood
- Māori: tāngutu — short piece of firewood
- Polish: szczapa — short piece of firewood
- Russian: поле́но (poléno) — short piece of firewood
- Russian: чурба́н (čurbán) — short piece of firewood
- Russian: пла́шка (pláška) — short piece of firewood
- Russian: брусо́к (brusók) — short piece of firewood
- Ottoman Turkish: طاقوز (takoz) — short piece of firewood
- Bulgarian: разкварти́рувам (razkvartíruvam) — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Dutch: inkwartieren — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Finnish: majoittaa — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- German: einquartieren — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Māori: whakanoho manuhiri — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Māori: whakanoho hōia — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Norman: casèrner — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Portuguese: aquartelar — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Russian: расквартиро́вывать (raskvartiróvyvatʹ) — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Russian: расквартирова́ть (raskvartirovátʹ) — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Spanish: acuartelar — to lodge soldiers, or guests, in a private house
- Finnish: olla majoitettuna — to be lodged
- Finnish: majoittaa — to direct where to lodge