An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

To BILL, v. a. To register, to record.
Bp. Forbes.

BILLIE, BILLY, s.
1. A companion, a comrade.
Minstrelsy Border.
2. Fellow, used rather contemptuously, S. synon. [chield], [chap].
Shirrefs.
3. As a term expressive of affection and familiarity; S.
Ramsay.
4. A lover, one who is in suit of a woman.
Evergreen.
Still used in this sense, S. B.
5. A brother, S.
Minstrelsy Border.
6. Apparently used in allusion to brotherhood in arms, according to the ancient laws of chivalry.
Minstrelsy Border.
7. A young man. In this sense it is often used in the pl. The billies, or, the young billies, S. B.
It is expl. "a stout man, a clever fellow," Gl. Shirr.

8. Sometimes it signifies a boy, S. B. as synon. with [callan].
Ross.

It is probably allied to Su. G. Germ. billig, Belg. billik, equalis; as denoting those that are on a footing as to age, rank, relation, affection, or employment.

BILLIT, adj. "Shod with iron," Rudd. Billit ax.
Douglas.

This phrase is perhaps merely a circumlocution for the bipennis, or large ax.

V. [Balax].

BILTER, s. A child, Dumfr.; Isl. pilter, puellus.

BIN, s. A mountain, S. O.
Galloway.

From Gael. ben, id., Lomond bin, being synon. with Benlomond.