a short stout club used primarily by policemen
"The detective swung his billy at the intruder's leg to subdue him before he could escape."
male goat
"The farmer had to separate the billy from the does before they were introduced to the pasture."
A billy club.
"Grandfather fetched his old billy from the shed and set it on the embers to brew morning tea."
A tin with a swing handle used to boil tea over an open fire; a billycan; a billypot.
In plain English: A billy is an old-fashioned word for a large metal pot used to boil water or make coffee.
"He used his billy to pry open the stuck door."
Usage: Use "billy" to refer specifically to a portable metal pot with a long handle designed for boiling water or making tea over an open fire, such as in camping or historical settings. Do not use this term for general containers or other types of pots that lack the distinctive swing handle and outdoor cooking context.
A diminutive of the male given name William.
"Billy waved enthusiastically as he ran toward his grandfather to say hello."
The word "billy" likely comes from a variant of the older term "bully," which originally meant a companion or mate. It may have traveled into English alongside similar words in Scots and Middle Low German that shared meanings related to friendship or fairness.