handbilln.1
/ˈhan(d)bɪl/, U.S. /ˈhæn(d)ˌbɪl/ Now rare.
A light, short-bladed bill (bill n.1 4) or pruning knife.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [noun] > pruning or lopping > pruning-knife
handbill?1523
shredder1572
pruning knife1577
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xl Take a sharpe hatchette or a handbyll, and cutte the settes.
a1614 S. Harwood Treat. Propag. Plants 3 in W. Lawson New Orchard & Garden (1623) A little hand-Bill..helu'd of Iuory, Box, or Brazell.
1683 C. Wase tr. Cicero Five Days Deb. Tusculum v. xxiii. 308 Divers with Hand-Bills were sent in, who clear'd the place; when an open way was made.
1703 J. Evelyn Let. 20 Jan. in S. Pepys Private Corr. (1926) II. 300 With his hand-bill and pruning knife.
1776 I. Putnam Let. 27 May in G. Washington Papers (1991) Revolutionary War Ser. IV 395 Felling Axes 300. Hand Bills 500. Spades 1000.
1884 Forestry Aug. 278 The Earl of Hopetoun's forester exhibits a collection of tools, consisting of..hedge-bills of different sizes, handbills, and pruning saw.
1914 R. Kipling in Metropolitan Mar. 19/1 Jabez ranged up and down till he found a thinner place, and with clean snicks of the handbill revealed the original face of the fence.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
handbilln.2
/ˈhan(d)bɪl/, U.S. /ˈhæn(d)ˌbɪl/ A printed notice or advertisement on a single page, intended to be delivered or circulated by hand. Also: a small notice posted on a wall, in a window, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [noun] > placarding, postering, or billing > a placard, notice, or bill
bill1480
placard1560
ticket1567
pancart1577
affix1589
si quis1597
affiche1602
placketa1605
programme1633
programmaa1661
advertisement1692
clap-bill1699
handbill1718
daybill1731
show bill?a1750
notice1766
play-card1778
card1787
posting bill1788
poster1818
sticker1862
flyer1889
paper1896
1718 G. Sewell Resigners Vindicated II. 36 To abuse their Leaders, in Hand-Bills, Epigrams, short Satyrs. and Penny Pamphlets.
1753 World No. 1. 3 Who make their appearance either in hand-bills, or in weekly or daily papers.
1793 T. Hastings Regal Rambler 26 Lucifer drew up a most inflammatory hand-bill.
1838 W. Howitt Rural Life Eng. I. ii. v. 203 A large handbill in the post-office window, offering a reward of 100l. for the apprehension of a delinquent.
1864 C. Knight Passages Working Life I. v. 218 [He] had the indiscretion to circulate a hand-bill from house to house.
1913 Sat. Evening Post (Philadelphia) 22 Feb. 4/1 He littered the district with handbills entitled: The War on Wanamaker!
1945 G. Mitchell Rising of Moon xv. 160 At the pay-booth we had been given handbills of the circus. They were as good as programmes, for, to our minds, they described the entertainment satisfactorily.
2012 Record (Bergen County, New Jersey) (Nexis) 18 Mar. t1 The handbills advertising movies, bands and the newest interactive apps will be stuffed into garbage bags.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1?1523n.21718