billy
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A silk handkerchief.
Register: slang
Examples
All fighting coves you too must know, / Ben Caunt as well as Bendigo, / And to each mill be sure to go, / […] And you must sport a blue billy, / Or a yellow wipe […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “billy” mean?
A silk handkerchief.
Is “billy” formal or informal?
billy is generally slang.