Where does “boatbill” come from?

boatbill (English) comes from English Bill, from Middle English bill, from Old English bil, from Frankish billi, from Proto-Germanic bilją, from Proto-Germanic harjaz, from Proto-Indo-European kóryos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer- — army.

boatbill (English): A form of heron, "Cochlearius cochlearius",...

Definitions

  1. A form of heron, "Cochlearius cochlearius",...

Ancestry of “boatbill”, step by step

boatbill traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Bill

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBillA nickname for the British constabulary. Often called "The Bill" or "Old Bill"
2Middle Englishbill
3Old Englishbila kind of sword or other bladed weapon,...
4Frankishbilli
5Proto-Germanicbiljąa cutting implement; blade; axe; sword; spike;...
6Proto-Germanicharjazarmy; army leader; commander; warrior
7Proto-Indo-Europeankóryoswar; troops; army; war, troops
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
10Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

via English boat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishboatA craft used for transportation of goods,...
2Middle EnglishbotA seafaring vessel or watercraft; a device for...
3Old Englishbātthat which can be bitten, food, bait; boat, ship,...
4Proto-West Germanicbaitboat, ship
5Proto-Germanicbaitazboat, ship
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyd-to split
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰey-bee
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker-Every word from Proto-Indo-European kr̥-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-