bilboes
Britishplural noun
Etymology
Origin of bilboes
C16: perhaps changed from 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.
Whether the Spanish Armada story is true or not, bilboes were certainly much used on board ship.
From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Earle, Alice Morse
The bilboes is a bar of iron with fetters annexed to it, by which mutinous or disorderly sailors were anciently linked together.
From Folk-lore of Shakespeare by Thiselton-Dyer, Thomas Firminger
Now, sir, if you are in no great hurry, and have a mind to travel in company with a martyr, just as soon as I am free of these bilboes, we'll take the road together.
From The Amateur Gentleman by Farnol, Jeffery
I'll give him a passport to Winchester bilboes.
From Wild Oats or, The Strolling Gentlemen by Anonymous
Restraint, durance, confinement under arrest, or in the bilboes.
From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
