Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “billy” come from?

Billy derives from the English given name William, which comes from Anglo-Norman Willame, though the semantic connection between the personal name and its common noun usage remains unclear.

billy (English): A billy club; A billy goat; A good friend

Definitions

  1. A billy club; A billy goat; A good friend

Ancestry of “billy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBilly—
2EnglishBill—
3Middle Englishbill—
4Old Englishbila kind of sword or other bladed weapon,...
5Frankishbilli—
6Proto-Germanicbiljąa cutting implement; blade; axe; sword; spike;...
7Proto-Germanicharjazarmy; army leader; commander; warrior
8Proto-Indo-Europeankóryoswar; troops; army; war, troops
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
11Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “billy”

  • hillbilly
  • hillbillyish
  • billy cart
  • hillbillylike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →