brown-bill

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English

Etymology

brown +‎ bill; see bill (“polearm”).

Pronunciation

Noun

brown-bill (plural brown-bills)

  1. (historical) A type of halberd used by medieval foot-soldiers and constables, painted brown to prevent rust.
    • 1599, [Thomas] Nashe, “[The Epistle Dedicatorie]”, in Nashes Lenten Stuffe, , London: [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N L and C B , →OCLC:
      Let the Kanne of ſtrong ale [be] your conſtable, with the toaſte his browne bill, and ſugar and nutmegs his watchmen ſtand in a readineſſe, to entertaine mee euerie time I come by your lodging.
    • 1819, Walter Scott, Ivanhoe:
      The tramp of horses was now heard, and the Lady Rowena appeared, surrounded by several riders, and a much stronger party of footmen, who joyfully shook their pikes and clashed their brown-bills for joy of her freedom.
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