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• billingsgate
  billingsgate

  noun

  coarsely or vulgarly abusive language.
• Billingsgate
  Billingsgate

  noun

  the largest fish market in London, on the N bank of the River Thames; moved to new site at Canary Wharf in 1982 and the former building converted into offices

billingsgate

American  

[bil-ingz-geyt, -git] / ˈbɪl ɪŋzˌgeɪt, -gɪt /

noun

1. coarsely or vulgarly abusive language.

   Synonyms:

   vulgarity, scurrility, invective, vilification, vituperation

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Billingsgate ¹ British  

/ ˈbɪlɪŋɡzˌɡeɪt /

noun

1. the largest fish market in London, on the N bank of the River Thames; moved to new site at Canary Wharf in 1982 and the former building converted into offices

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billingsgate ² British  

/ ˈbɪlɪŋzˌɡeɪt /

noun

1. obscene or abusive language

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Etymology

Origin of billingsgate

First recorded in 1645–55; originally the kind of speech often heard at Billingsgate, a London fish market at the gate of the same name

Explanation

Billingsgate is rude, abusive language. If a political debate is becoming nasty and insulting, it's good to have a moderator who will demand an end to the billingsgate. The British term billingsgate is less familiar in the U.S. — but it's a great way to refer to a particularly coarse form of verbal abuse. It comes from London's Billingsgate Fish Market, a 17th-century open-air market where ill-mannered fishmongers hollered raucously, haggling over prices using rude and vulgar language. The word can be used for any kind of foul-mouthed vituperation: "No arguing about sports rivalries at my birthday party! It always turns into pure billingsgate!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

billingsgate Billingsgate

On the floor of the U. S. Senate, Dr. Butler was spattered with billingsgate.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the city whose name has been a synonym for social war and political billingsgate, Champion Deneen warred upon Robert E. Crowe, the State's attorney of Leopold-Loeb fame and Mayor Thompson's entourage.

From Time Magazine Archive

Nonsmokers, who used to say mildly, "Would you mind not smoking?" have moved up to billingsgate.

From Time Magazine Archive

And there, some say, he also goes in for union-busting and Bowery billingsgate.

From Time Magazine Archive

One must have read much in Luther, one should have read all of Luther, and his "billingsgate" will assume a different meaning.

From Luther Examined and Reexamined A Review of Catholic Criticism and a Plea for Revaluation by W. H. T. (William Herman Theodore) Dau

The corporation said traders would be able to continue their operations at the both Billingsgate and Smithfield markets until at least 2028.

From BBC ● Nov. 27, 2024

Harvey, the first woman to win the award since 2019, was announced as winner at a ceremony in London's Old Billingsgate, and will take home £50,000.

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2024

The protest at Billingsgate, the UK’s largest inland fish market, by Extinction Rebellion’s animal rebellion chapter began early on Saturday when protesters blocked the entrance.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 12, 2019

“Absolutely wonderful. Best news ever,” said Allen Laurence, 65, a vendor at London’s Billingsgate market.

From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2016

Old London Bridge was soon passed, and old Billingsgate Market with its oyster-boats and Dutchmen, and the White Tower and Traitor’s Gate, and we were in among the tiers of shipping.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens