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Webster 1913 Edition


Billet

Bil′let

,
Noun.
[F.
billet
, dim. of an OF.
bille
bill. See
Bill
a writing.]
1.
A small paper; a note; a short letter.
“I got your melancholy billet.”
Sterne.
2.
A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to lodge;
as, a
billet
of residence
.
3.
Quarters or place to which one is assigned, as by a billet or ticket; berth; position. Also used fig.
[Colloq.]
The men who cling to easy
billets
ashore.
Harper’s Mag.

Bil′let

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Billeted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Billeting
.]
[From
Billet
a ticket.]
(Mil.)
To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.
Billeted
in so antiquated a mansion.
W. Irving.

Bil′let

,
Noun.
[F.
billette
,
bille
, log; of unknown origin; a different word from
bille
ball. Cf.
Billiards
,
Billot
.]
1.
A small stick of wood, as for firewood.
They shall beat out my brains with
billets
.
Shakespeare
2.
(Metal.)
A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron.
3.
(Arch.)
An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either square or round.
4.
(Saddlery)
(a)
A strap which enters a buckle.
(b)
A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap.
Knight.
5.
(Her.)
A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle.

Webster 1828 Edition


Billet

BILL'ET

,
Noun.
[dim. of bill;]
A small paper or note in writing, used for various purposes; sometimes it is a short letter, addressed to some person; sometimes a ticket directing soldiers at what house to lodge.
In heraldry, billet is a bearing in the form of a long square.