bilbo
noun
a long iron bar or bolt with sliding shackles and a lock, formerly attached to the ankles of prisoners.
bilbo
1 American
[bil-boh]
/ ˈbɪl boʊ /
noun
-
bilboes
plural
bilbo
2
American
[bil-boh]
/ ˈbɪl boʊ /
noun
Archaic.
-
bilboes
plural
Bilbo
3
American
[bil-boh]
/ ˈbɪl boʊ /
noun
bilbo
British
/ ˈbɪlbəʊ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bilbo1
First recorded in 1550–60; earlier bilbow < ?
Origin of bilbo2
1585–95; short for Bilboa blade sword made in Bilboa (variant of Bilbao )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A Spanish bilbo, to lock the English by the legs.
From City Scenes or a peep into London by William Darton
Sir John and master mine, I combat challenge of this latten bilbo.
From The Merry Wives of Windsor The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by John Glover
Out with your bilbo and maintain your words.'
From Micah Clarke His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During the Hard Winter of 1734 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
That is true enough," said Bothwell, as he slowly rose; "put up your bilbo, Tom.
From Old Mortality, Volume 1. by Sir Walter Scott
I have brought you a couple of dictionaries; let us see if your highness can find out the Latin for bilbo.
From The Lady of Lyons by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton
The Shire operates according to an established hierarchy, with sophisticated types like Bilbo and forelock-tugging underlings like Sam Gamgee; the latter could have stepped in from “The Pickwick Papers.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Dee Terry from Durrington in Wiltshire had her German spitz, Bilbo, neutered last year - but the procedure led to an infection, leaving her with £1,200 in unexpected vet bills.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2025
Previously known for: The U.K. version of “The Office,” as Ricky Gervais’ droll underling Tim and “The Hobbit” trilogy in the role of heroic Bilbo Baggins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2024
Mr. Dawood wrote in a Facebook post last year from a trip in Iceland, quoting Bilbo Baggins from “The Fellowship of the Ring.”
From New York Times ● Jun. 21, 2023
‘Only what Bilbo told me. I have heard his story: how he found it, and how he used it: on his journey, I mean.’
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
One of the earliest of these degrading engines of confinement for public exposure, to be used in punishment in this country, was the bilboes.
From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Alice Morse Earle
I would not be over-severe upon the bilboes in their special use in those early colonial settlements.
From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Alice Morse Earle
The old-fashioned arrangement of iron bars called the "bilboes" was fastened to the bulkhead at the bow end of the alleyway.
From The Black Buccaneer by Stephen W. (Stephen Warren) Meader
And another, the same year, for threatening—were he punished—he would carry the case to England, was summarily and fearlessly thrust into the bilboes.
From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Alice Morse Earle
They were right glad that I should come down to you, and I gave them the word of a sailor that I would get you out of the bilboes if it might anyhow be done.'
From Micah Clarke His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During the Hard Winter of 1734 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
