brown-bill

English

Etymology

From brown +‎ bill; see bill (“polearm”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɹaʊnbɪl/

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[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →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.