windbill

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A signed agreement to act as guarantor for another's debt.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

He would have got a bank-credit, manoeuvred with windbills, dashed out upon a large scale, and soon have seen his crop and stock sequestered by the Sheriff'; but in those days a man could not ruin himself so easily.

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 “windbill” mean?

A signed agreement to act as guarantor for another's debt.

Is “windbill” formal or informal?

windbill is generally slang.