Bloody Bill
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The 31 Henry VIII, c. 14, which denounced death, by hanging or burn- ing, on all who denied the doctrine of transub- stantiation.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Bloody Bill” mean?
The 31 Henry VIII, c. 14, which denounced death, by hanging or burn- ing, on all who denied the doctrine of transub- stantiation.
Is “Bloody Bill” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.