† billingn.1
Obsolete.
Working with a bill or mattock; hoeing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > breaking up land > [noun] > hoeing
billingc1440
hoeing1658
sarritiona1722
sarculation1733
scuffling1802
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 36 Byllynge of mattokys, ligonizacio.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
billingn.2
/ˈbɪlɪŋ/ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > actions or bird defined by > [noun] > pecking
billingc1440
peckinga1450
peck1611
beaking1706
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 36 Byllynge of byrdys, rostratus.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Imbeccata..an embilling, a billing or feading.
1599 Master Broughtons Lett. Answered i. 6 The billing of such filthie garbage.
2. The caressing of doves; kissing; love-making.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > [noun] > conversing caressingly or amorously > caressing like a pair of doves
billing1589
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > dove > caressing of
billing1589
the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > [noun] > conversing caressingly or amorously
turtling1669
billing1733
cooing1821
turtle-doveism1850
1589 W. Warner Albions Eng. (new ed.) vi. xxxi. 137 First blende they heards, and forthwith lippes: and after billing fell To other sport.
1616 W. Drummond Poems (rev. ed.) sig. O4v Come let vs teach new Billing to the Doue.
1733 H. Fielding Miser (London ed.) i. iii. 5 Here's fine billing, and cooing, I warrant.
1814 L. Hunt Feast of Poets 10 I never much valued your billings and cooings.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
billingn.3
a. The action of entering in a list, enrolling, indicting, lampooning, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > administration of justice > general proceedings > accusation, allegation, or indictment > [noun]
wrayingc1000
indictment1303
accusationa1382
information1387
appeaching1401
allegeancea1430
supposal1429
accuse?a1439
appealing1440
ditingc1440
indictingc1440
detection1471
cusing1488
indictament1523
arraigning1533
denouncement1544
arraignment1549
raignment1570
delation1578
denunciation1588
prosecution1590
accusement1596
inditure1614
aggravation1626
arraign1638
delating1820
billing1884
beef1928
1884 Manch. Examiner 14 Nov. 5/4 The proceedings in connection with the billing of the Sheriffs.
b. Announcing or advertising by bill or poster; publicity. Also attributive. So top billing, the most prominent position on a poster, advertisement, or the like; stardom.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > information > publishing or spreading abroad > publishing or spreading by leaflets or notices > [noun] > placarding, postering, or billing
affixment1639
posting1656
affixion1760
placarding1800
screening1806
bill-sticking1851
paperhanging1851
bill-posting1869
billing1875
fly-posting1903
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > [noun] > a performance > item in > bill of items > chief place on
top line1906
star billing1910
festival headliner1927
top billing1968
1875 Chambers's Jrnl. 132/1 Advertisements, which most likely took the form of ‘billing’.
1900 Daily News 4 Dec. 3/2 No billing is attempted in the City, and hence the urgent necessity for a thorough distribution of election literature.
1902 Daily Chron. 20 Mar. 7/4 If plaintiff did not send..particulars of her performance for billing purposes.
1905 Daily Chron. 28 June 6/2 The defence was that Mr. Elen did not send on ‘billing matter’ two weeks in advance of his engagement.
1957 L. F. R. Williams State of Israel 145 English plays of recent date, in Hebrew translations, figure more frequently in the billings.
1968 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 13 Jan. 24/1 He made his Broadway debut as Lancelot in Camelot, with billing below the title; now, he is returning to Broadway, with top billing.
1969 Times 14 Feb. 10/7 He and other dance band leaders..vied with Gracie Fields for the top billing on the music halls and radio.
c. Commerce. The act of making out or sending a bill, invoice, etc. Also attributive, as billing machine.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > charges > [noun] > sending bill or invoice
billing1908
society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > [noun] > making out bills
billing1908
1908 Westm. Gaz. 26 Feb. 9/2 The billing machine..will produce half a dozen business documents at one operation, and will total up automatically the various items entered.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 29 Feb. 7/1 The special Oliver for Billing and Invoicing... Combined Billing and Adding Machines.
1959 Economist 4 Apr. 68/2 The two industries might profitably co-operate in such things as meter reading, billing and collection of accounts.
d. The total amount of business or investment, esp. of an advertising agency, during a given period. U.S.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > income, revenue, or profit > [noun] > income of a company
cash flow1954
franked income1955
billing1958
1958 M. Mayer Madison Ave. iii. 53 We've grown from $2,900,000 in billings in 1940 to about $100,000,000 in 1957.
1959 I. Ross Image Merchants (1960) viii. 134 Their gross billing was $150,000 in 1951.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
billingadj.
That bills or caresses like a pair of doves.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > [adjective] > exhibiting or demonstrating one's love openly > billing or caressing like a pair of doves
billing1720
1720 J. Gay Espousal Let me be The billing dove, and fondling lamb to thee.
1729 T. Cooke Tales 67 Hear the billing Turtles coo.
1801 T. Moore Kiss Give me, my love, that billing kiss I taught you.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1c1440
n.2c1440n.31875adj.1720