English Explanatory Dictionary

Old Bill

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A police officer.
  2. The police force.
  3. A soldier, especially one who resembles the cartoon character of the same name created by Bruce Bairnsfather in 1914.

Pronunciation

En-au-Old Bill.ogg

Word forms

Old Bill the Old Bill

Etymology

Unknown. Suggested sources for the police officer and police force terms include: #Old Bill, comic character created by Bruce Bairnsfather. #Music hall song "Won't you come home, Bill Bailey", which references the Old Bailey criminal court. #William IV (reigned 1830-37), who became king the year after the Metropolitan Police were founded (1829). #Wilhelm I, Prussian Kaiser who visited the UK around the same time the custodian helmet was adopted (1863). #bill (“cutting instrument”) or billhook, weapons carried by constables of the watch. #bill (“written note of services rendered”), allegedly presented by a police officer to solicit a bribe. #bill (“draft of a law”), laid in Parliament. #Number plates for all public services, including police, registered by London County Council with the letter "BYL". ##Specifically, the cars of the Flying Squad. #Bill Smith, a popular police sergeant in Limehouse circa 1860s.

Synonyms

bobby PC Plod rozzer 5-O alphabet barney beatsman bizzie bluebottle bluecoat blue heeler blue meanie body snatcher bogey boy in blue bull bullyman buttons centenier charpering omi chazzer cobbler cop copper cozzer cracker crusher crowns dibble fed filth finest finger five-o flatfoot flatty fuzz garda gendarme glowie guardian of the peace harman harman-beck Inspector Knacker jack jackboot jake John Law John Q. Law Johnny Hopper lawman mee-maw monarch Mr Plod mutton shunter nuthook oinker Officer Friendly Old Bill one-time
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