Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

billingsgate

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.98 in modern English

Syllables: billings-gate
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Profane, abusive language; coarse words.

verb

To use profane, abusive language towards.

Transitive verb

name

A ward of the City of London, Greater London, England.

Example Sentences

"You wouldn't have believed the billingsgate which poured forth from that boy's mouth."
"These "flytings" consisted of alternate torrents of sheer Billingsgate poured upon each other by the combatants."
"On the other hand, the Englishman has the satisfaction of Billingsgating to his heart's content the highest officials: they accept objurgation with spaniel fawning."
"And vppon fridaye the morowe after brought it vpp to Billynges gate in London"

Etymology

From the London, England fishmarket Billingsgate: "Billingsgate is the market where the fishwomen assemble to purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners a little on the left hand." (Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811).

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

billingsgates (present, singular) billingsgating (participle, present) billingsgated (participle, past) billingsgated (past) Billynges gate (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

billingsgate

Phrases

Billingsgate Fish Market Billingsgate pheasant

Synonyms

scurrility

Questions

What does billingsgate mean?: Profane, abusive language; coarse words.
Where does billingsgate come from?: From the London, England fishmarket Billingsgate: "Billingsgate is the market where the fishwomen assemble to purchase fish; and where, in their dealings and disputes they are somewhat apt to leave decency and good manners a little on the left hand." (Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811).

How to pronounce billingsgate

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